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CNN Live Today

Interview With Phil Saviano

Aired August 25, 2003 - 11:07   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us now with more on what Geoghan's death means to victims of the sex abuse scandal is Phil Saviano. He heads the Massachusetts branch of SNAP, the Survivors' Network of those Abused by Priests. Good morning to you, sir. Thanks for being with us today
PHIL SAVIANO, SNAP : Good morning, Heidi.

COLLINS: Tell me, if you would, what is your reaction to the death of John Geoghan over the weekend?

SAVIANO: Well I was stunned. The thing is that John Geoghan was perhaps the most notorious inmate in that facility. And I was amazed that the security measures were not enough to protect him.

The other thing that bears in mind is that the story of Geoghan has been a long, troubling saga going back to 1997 when the first Geoghan victims came forward. And the fact that it should end in such a way, with such tremendous violence, is very upsetting for all of us.

COLLINS: Have you had a moment to speak with any of the members of your group SNAP about this?

SAVIANO: Sure.

COLLINS: What do they say?

SAVIANO: Well, I think that most of us feel that -- first of all we were glad that he was imprisoned because certainly he needed to be off the streets. We felt as long as he was in prison children were protected.

But a prison sentence was not meant to be a death sentence, which is what happened in this case. I think most of us would have liked to have seen John Geoghan live a very long and very healthy life in prison, and have time to reflect on his past behavior and the havoc he inflicted on the life of so many children.

The other thing is that he was facing two more criminal trials. And now those trials will not occur. And the evidence that was going to be presented to the public is not going to be presented either. So, we're disappointed in many levels.

COLLINS: So specifically for the abused victims this would be way too much to say that it gives them any sort of closure.

SAVIANO: Oh, no. No, there's no closure in this. I would be surprised if any would feel that this brings them even any sort of satisfaction.

There is the adage of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. But with the Geoghan case we were talking about psychological violence and this is physical violence. It's a whole different thing. And I don't think that any of us wished this upon him.

COLLINS: Let's talk for a moment, if we could, Mr. Saviano, about Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley and the work that he has been doing in Boston certainly to repair relations between the church and its people. Has this development changed that at all or will it change that face of moving forward?

SAVIANO: Well, we have not had a reaction from him regarding the death of Geoghan except for a very brief statement. He hasn't done any interviews to elaborate on that statement which essentially called for prayers for the repose of his soul. Did not mention any concern of what the victims might be feeling this weekend, by the way.

But he does seem to be taking some proactive steps. We have a settlement negotiation in the process that is moving forward in a way that it hasn't moved forward in over a year. And the other thing is just this past weekend four more priests in the Boston Archdiocese were placed on leave due to sexual abuse allegations.

So it does seem that he's under an awful lot of scrutiny. But thus far he does seem to be responding appropriately.

COLLINS: And as you say, the investigation has been ordered now for those four priests.

SAVIANO: Right.

COLLINS: Thank you so much. Phil Saviano, we certainly appreciate your time today...

SAVIANO: Thank you.

COLLINS: .. from SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Thanks again.

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 August 25, 2003 - 11:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us now with more on what Geoghan's death means to victims of the sex abuse scandal is Phil Saviano. He heads the Massachusetts branch of SNAP, the Survivors' Network of those Abused by Priests. Good morning to you, sir. Thanks for being with us today
PHIL SAVIANO, SNAP : Good morning, Heidi.

COLLINS: Tell me, if you would, what is your reaction to the death of John Geoghan over the weekend?

SAVIANO: Well I was stunned. The thing is that John Geoghan was perhaps the most notorious inmate in that facility. And I was amazed that the security measures were not enough to protect him.

The other thing that bears in mind is that the story of Geoghan has been a long, troubling saga going back to 1997 when the first Geoghan victims came forward. And the fact that it should end in such a way, with such tremendous violence, is very upsetting for all of us.

COLLINS: Have you had a moment to speak with any of the members of your group SNAP about this?

SAVIANO: Sure.

COLLINS: What do they say?

SAVIANO: Well, I think that most of us feel that -- first of all we were glad that he was imprisoned because certainly he needed to be off the streets. We felt as long as he was in prison children were protected.

But a prison sentence was not meant to be a death sentence, which is what happened in this case. I think most of us would have liked to have seen John Geoghan live a very long and very healthy life in prison, and have time to reflect on his past behavior and the havoc he inflicted on the life of so many children.

The other thing is that he was facing two more criminal trials. And now those trials will not occur. And the evidence that was going to be presented to the public is not going to be presented either. So, we're disappointed in many levels.

COLLINS: So specifically for the abused victims this would be way too much to say that it gives them any sort of closure.

SAVIANO: Oh, no. No, there's no closure in this. I would be surprised if any would feel that this brings them even any sort of satisfaction.

There is the adage of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. But with the Geoghan case we were talking about psychological violence and this is physical violence. It's a whole different thing. And I don't think that any of us wished this upon him.

COLLINS: Let's talk for a moment, if we could, Mr. Saviano, about Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley and the work that he has been doing in Boston certainly to repair relations between the church and its people. Has this development changed that at all or will it change that face of moving forward?

SAVIANO: Well, we have not had a reaction from him regarding the death of Geoghan except for a very brief statement. He hasn't done any interviews to elaborate on that statement which essentially called for prayers for the repose of his soul. Did not mention any concern of what the victims might be feeling this weekend, by the way.

But he does seem to be taking some proactive steps. We have a settlement negotiation in the process that is moving forward in a way that it hasn't moved forward in over a year. And the other thing is just this past weekend four more priests in the Boston Archdiocese were placed on leave due to sexual abuse allegations.

So it does seem that he's under an awful lot of scrutiny. But thus far he does seem to be responding appropriately.

COLLINS: And as you say, the investigation has been ordered now for those four priests.

SAVIANO: Right.

COLLINS: Thank you so much. Phil Saviano, we certainly appreciate your time today...

SAVIANO: Thank you.

COLLINS: .. from SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Thanks again.

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