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CNN Live Today

Cardinal Law Giving Deposition

Aired May 08, 2002 - 11:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law has been under fire for the handling of the church sex abuse scandal that's been unfolding underneath him.

Today he goes under oath, facing questions in a deposition.

Our Jason Carroll has been following the developments of this case up until now, and he's there doing it again this morning in Boston.

Hello, Jason.

JASON CARROLL CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Leon.

Cardinal Law's deposition is still taking place, happening right now at Suffolk Superior Court.

Cardinal Law arrived this morning just a few minutes before his deposition was scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM. The deposition is related to a civil suit involving convicted pedophile priest John Geoghan.

The archdiocese of Boston had reached a multi-million dollar settlement agreement with 86 of Geoghan's alleged victims, but they backed out of that settlement agreement last Friday.

That prompted the attorney for the plaintiffs in this case, Mitchell Garabedian, to immediately seek that Cardinal Law be deposed.

Earlier this morning, Mitchell Garabedian showed up here at court, and he talked about what he expects to happen at this deposition.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITCHELL GARABEDIAN, ATTORNEY: I hope he's honest. I hope he isn't evasive. I hope he gives us straightforward answers and comes clean.

QUESTION: How extensive do you expect the questioning to be?

GARABEDIAN: I think this will go on for days, with the court's permission.

QUESTION: What are you hoping to learn from the cardinal today? What do you want to ask him?

GARABEDIAN: I want to ask him about his participation, his activity, and his knowledge about Father Geoghan's sexual molestations and his activity with regards to the archdiocese, and his policies involving sexual molestation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Specifically, Garabedian wants to try to find out from Cardinal Law why Cardinal Law and other members of the clergy moved Geoghan from parish to parish even though they apparently knew about allegations of sexual abuse, and why they allowed Geoghan to continue to have access to children.

Now, there are no reporters that are allowed in this deposition, but the judge did allow one of Geoghan's alleged victims to stand in as a representative for all of the alleged victims in this civil case.

A transcript of the proceedings will be provided to reporters at the end of the day -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right. Thank you very much, Jason. Jason Carroll, reporting live for us in Boston.

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