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Cardinal Law Gives Deposition in Sex Abuse Scandal

Aired May 08, 2002 - 14:37   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A transcript of Cardinal Bernard Law's deposition so far shows him being cooperative but unable to recall certain details. Law is being deposed for a civil suit by 86 people who say they were molested by defrocked priest, John Geoghan. CNN's Jason Carroll is following developments. He joins us live from Boston -- Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And, Kyra, the afternoon session of Cardinal Law's deposition is under way. As you said, we have received some transcripts from the morning session, some 100 pages. Got it about 20 minutes ago, so just having a chance to look through some of this.

Just to recap what's happened out here. Cardinal Law arriving for his deposition early this morning, arrived just a few minutes before it was scheduled to begin. The deposition is in relation to a civil suit involving defrocked and convicted priest John Geoghan. He was convicted of molesting a young boy. But he's accused of molesting scores of children throughout the years.

Cardinal Law, when asked about this whole -- all of the allegations that John Geoghan is facing, he said that he couldn't remember the first time that he met John Geoghan. In fact, he said he could not remember initialing a letter that he received back in 1984 from a woman who was complaining about John Geoghan. Apparently she had raised concerns, had indicated about these allegations of sexual abuse.

Cardinal Law actually initialed that letter, Kyra, writing on it, "urgent, please follow through." That notation written to some of those who were serving under Cardinal Law. When asked about the allegations that Geoghan was facing, it says here, question, "so as of 1984, your memory of September of 1984, you were unaware that Father Geoghan had admitted to Bishop Daley to molesting boys." Bishop Daley, I just want to note, was a bishop here in the archdiocese of Boston in 1984.

The answer from Cardinal Law says, "I do not recall having been informed of this by Bishop Daley, no." Also, Cardinal Law was asked about how allegations of sexual abuse would be handled. He said, answer, "I viewed this as a pathology, as a psychological pathology, as an illness. Obviously I viewed it as something that had a moral component. It was, objectively speaking, a gravely sinful act. And that's something that one deals with in one's life, in one's relationship to God. But I also viewed this as a pathology, as an illness. And so consequently I, not being an expert in this pathology, not being a psychiatrist, not being a psychologist, my modus operandi was to rely upon those whom I considered and would have reason to consider to have an expertise that I lacked in assessing this pathology."

So we're starting to get a little bit more about what Cardinal Law thought of this. What he's basically saying is that he relied on the advice of medical experts, if you will, in terms of how to deal with allegations of abuse.

So obviously, we've got a hundred pages of transcripts here. Again, I've had just about 20 minutes to look through some of the transcripts. But that's just some of the highlights that I've come up with at this point -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Jason, I know how thorough you are. We'll check in with you again and get some more highlights. Jason Carroll, thanks so much.

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