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Interview with Robert Sherman, Attorney for Priests' Victims

Aired April 23, 2002 - 07:32   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go live to Boston, where the current sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church first came to light. Our Jason Carroll is standing by with Bob Sherman, who is an attorney for several victims of alleged sexual abuse by priests. And Jason, along with the attorney, has been listening to the briefing we just heard from the Vatican -- Jason, good morning.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I was watching that very closely, and as you mentioned, I was not alone. Robert Sherman was watching the press conference coming out of the Vatican as well. As you said, he is an attorney whose law firm represents some 180 people who say they were molested by priests.

ROBERT SHERMAN, ATTORNEY FOR ALLEGED VICTIMS: Right.

CARROLL: I know that you said that you were somewhat encouraged by what you heard during this Vatican meeting. What would you like to see ultimately come out of the meeting?

SHERMAN: Well I think we're going to have to have a program that addresses a number of issues. We're going to have to address therapy services for people that are still in pain. We're going to have to have prevention programs, and we're also going to have to have a protocol for reporting these issues of abuse to law enforcement authorities.

I think I was heartened by the fact that I heard Bishop Gregory talk about the issue not being just confined to pedophile priests, but to the Church hierarchy who failed to deal with this problem appropriately.

CARROLL: You also want to see them reach out to victims as well, do you not?

SHERMAN: Absolutely. You can't have the cardinals simply dealing with themselves on this issue. It's like asking the fox what's going on in the hen house.

The issue needs to be addressed by the victims, also, who are well aware of where the breakdown in the systems are that caused this problem in the first place.

CARROLL: I know that you've been a strong critic of Cardinal Law. Does his resignation ultimately, in your eyes, have to be part of the solution as well?

SHERMAN: Well I think there's a definite question as to the cardinal's ability to lead this church in the future. Certainly, today, we had a well-respected member of the Haitian community of clergymen calling for the cardinal's resignation. And I know that there are reports that two of his fellow cardinals are asking for his resignation.

Certainly, Cardinal Law was part of the cover-up here in Boston. And it's a real question in my mind whether he can be part of the healing process.

CARROLL: Do you think he should step down?

SHERMAN: Well I think that's an issue for the Church and it's something that the Church needs to strongly consider.

CARROLL: OK. Robert Sherman, an attorney, thank you so very, very much.

Again, Paula, Robert Sherman saying that he believes that whatever policies are developed coming out of this meeting, that he believes that the cardinals ultimately are going to have to reach out to victims as well -- Paula.

ZAHN: All right. Jason Carroll, thanks so much for that live update.

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