Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Interview with Dr. Ann Webb

Aired December 13, 2002 - 11:43   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: Back now to the resignation of Bernard Cardinal Law, that shocking news. Cardinal Law may be out, but legal troubles for the Boston archdiocese and, perhaps, Law himself appear to be far from over. Dr. Ann Webb is with the Survivor's Network for Those Abused by Priests; SNAP is the name of the group, and she joins us now from Boston. Good morning, Dr. Webb.
DR. ANN WEBB, SNAP: Good morning.

HARRIS: First of all, your reaction to this resignation from Cardinal Law?

WEBB: Well, I'm pleased that he has finally had the courage to step down. It's the first step in, I think, a long process of changes that need to be made in the Catholic Church. I wish he had done it sooner. We've been on the picket line for weeks and weeks and weeks, insisting that he step down, and I'm glad that he's finally taken that step.

HARRIS: Well, as I understand it, he did offer his resignation earlier, back in April I believe it was, and the pope did not accept it then. And it appears as though this time around, however, things have gotten to the point where the pope suggested -- or believed that now was the time for this to happen. Do you believe that Cardinal Law is the only person who's going to have to be out of the picture for this entire process to move forward?

WEBB: Absolutely not. I think Cardinal Egan is equally as culpable, Cardinal Maloney. I think Law's former deputies, Bishop McCormick, Daly (ph), and the others, they are very culpable in this matter, and until they are no longer the moral leaders of the Catholic Church, there will be a lot of changes that still need to be made.

HARRIS: Does this resignation, though, in any way help those in your group who are struggling with their pain, as well as with their faith though?

WEBB: Absolutely. What it tells us is that our voices have finally...

HARRIS: Well, we apologize. Obviously, we've experienced a technical difficulty, lost that transmission from Boston with Dr. Webb.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 13, 2002 - 11:43   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Back now to the resignation of Bernard Cardinal Law, that shocking news. Cardinal Law may be out, but legal troubles for the Boston archdiocese and, perhaps, Law himself appear to be far from over. Dr. Ann Webb is with the Survivor's Network for Those Abused by Priests; SNAP is the name of the group, and she joins us now from Boston. Good morning, Dr. Webb.
DR. ANN WEBB, SNAP: Good morning.

HARRIS: First of all, your reaction to this resignation from Cardinal Law?

WEBB: Well, I'm pleased that he has finally had the courage to step down. It's the first step in, I think, a long process of changes that need to be made in the Catholic Church. I wish he had done it sooner. We've been on the picket line for weeks and weeks and weeks, insisting that he step down, and I'm glad that he's finally taken that step.

HARRIS: Well, as I understand it, he did offer his resignation earlier, back in April I believe it was, and the pope did not accept it then. And it appears as though this time around, however, things have gotten to the point where the pope suggested -- or believed that now was the time for this to happen. Do you believe that Cardinal Law is the only person who's going to have to be out of the picture for this entire process to move forward?

WEBB: Absolutely not. I think Cardinal Egan is equally as culpable, Cardinal Maloney. I think Law's former deputies, Bishop McCormick, Daly (ph), and the others, they are very culpable in this matter, and until they are no longer the moral leaders of the Catholic Church, there will be a lot of changes that still need to be made.

HARRIS: Does this resignation, though, in any way help those in your group who are struggling with their pain, as well as with their faith though?

WEBB: Absolutely. What it tells us is that our voices have finally...

HARRIS: Well, we apologize. Obviously, we've experienced a technical difficulty, lost that transmission from Boston with Dr. Webb.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com