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Cardinal Bernard Law Triggers Latest Crossfire of Allegations in Open Letter

Aired May 21, 2002 - 10:46   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: Embattled Boston cardinal Bernard Law has triggered the latest crossfire of allegations in an open letter. He faces questions under oath in two weeks from now and angry accusations right now.

Boston bureau chief Bill Delaney explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL DELANEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jacqueline Gauvreau never let go what she says a then 16-year family friend told her back in 1981, that former Paul Shanley sexually molested him. Gauvreau says twice, in 1987, she personally told this to Boston's archbishop Bernard Cardinal Law after an Easter Sunday mass, and several weeks later.

JACQUELINE GAUVREAU, CATHOLIC PARISHIONER: He blew me off. He didn't give a damn. He knew I was telling him the truth. He didn't care.

DELANEY: Her anger now because of Sunday night, a letter released by cardinal law to local parishes reading, in part: "Before God, I assure you that my first knowledge of an allegation of sexual abuse against this priest was in 1993."

GAUVREAU: He Can't remember something like this? what is he doing as cardinal of the archdiocese of Boston? How could you forget someone telling you that? It's just one of those moments in your life when someone tells you something so horrific that you can't get it out of your mind, you remember the time and the place.

DELANEY: The archdiocese of Boston declined further comment on what the cardinal knew about father Shanley beyond the letter.

But lawyers for plaintiffs against Father Shanley, who's in jail awaiting trial on other charges of abuse, also say, before 1993, the cardinal had at least reason to suspect Shanley's attitudes toward sex with young males.

In April, 1985, a woman named Wilma Higgs wrote to cardinal Law complaining Shanley had publicly endorsed sex between men and boys. A deputy to the cardinal wrote back to say Law was aware of her complaint. The cardinal acknowledged receiving her letter, where she brings to his attention the fact that Shanley was involved with man- boy love.

ROBERT SHERMAN, ATTORNEY: The only thing I can guess is that he is trying to split a very fine hair, and say that he was not aware until 1993 of allegations of sexual abuse of parishioners.

DELANEY: Cardinal law is scheduled to be deposed about how much he knew about father Shanley in early June.

(on camera): Having approved in 1990, father Shanley's transfer to the diocese of San Bernardino, California, cardinal Law rescinded that in October 1993 after, he says, he learned of the accusations against father Shanley, by then clearly concerned, as he says now, he'd have been earlier, if he had known.

Bill Delaney, CNN, Boston.

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