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CNN Live Today
Should Shanley's Records be Made Public?
Aired May 14, 2002 - 14:04 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A hearing scheduled this hour in Boston on the medical and psychiatric records of Father Paul Shanley. He's the retired priest now being held on three counts of raping a child in the 1980's.
At issue today is whether files of Shanley's various examinations and therapies should be made public. They've already been ordered handed over to his alleged victim's families.
The high profile deposition of Boston's Cardinal Law on hold for a time, after three days of questioning.
Jason Carroll now reports on a five-year-old case involving the man who is now Cardinal Law's counterpart in New York.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Then bishop Edward Egan's testimony offers a unique look at how he answered questions about a priest accused of sexual abuse.
EDWARD EGAN, CARDINAL OF NEW YORK: All things considered, he made a good impression.
CARROLL: Egan complimented father Laurence Brett, and said he would be inclined to write Brett a letter of recommendation.
His videotaped testimony was played during a civil trial involving allegations Brett sexually molested Frank Martinelli (ph)when he was a teenager.
At times, Egan appears combative.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE LAWYER: When I refer "you," I mean the diocese, unless I specify it is Father Egan.
EGAN: Well, I would then like to have the opportunity when we are not sure who "you" is, to answer in my question who "you" is, in my understanding.
CARROLL: Egan says he now has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual abuse in place in New York. This is how he responded five years ago when asked what it would take to get a priest accused of sexual abuse suspended. UNIDENTIFIED MALE LAWYER: Supposing he was teaching at a school and sexually assaulted a student, and bit his student's penis -- would that be sufficient cause to suspend a priest?
EGAN: If there were such a case, that would be sufficient cause, I'm sure, in many bishops' minds.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE LAWYER: OK. Would it be one in your mind?
EGAN: I would have to know all the details. I wouldn't make -- the suggestion is so strange, I would want to know a more about it.
CARROLL: The suggestion wasn't all that strange.
It is what Brett was accused of doing to Martinelli (ph).
Egan also said priests are individual contractors, not the responsibility of a bishop.
EGAN: A priest is self-employed, self-employed according to the federal law...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE LAWYER: Which federal law?
EGAN: The federal law of the Internal Revenue Service.
EGAN: Cardinal Egan was asked after a mass this past weekend if he still believes that to be true.
EGAN: The question is whether they're an employee of the parish or the diocese. But, I don't think that's a major issue. I wouldn't bother with that, OK?
CARROLL: Before Egan became cardinal of New York, he suspended Brett after learning about more allegations of sexual abuse.
The Bridgeport diocese eventually settled the Brett civil suit shortly before Egan moved on to become cardinal of New York.
Jason Carroll, CNN, Boston.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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