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CNN Live Saturday

Boston Archdiocese Backs Out of Settlement

Aired May 04, 2002 - 12:10   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.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: One of the most notorious figures in the Catholic church sex scandal will be returned to Massachusetts next week. The Reverend Paul Shanley will be extradited from California to face charges of rape in Boston. This comes as the Boston archdiocese backs out of a settlement agreement with dozens of alleged sex abuse victims of another priest. Our Jason Carroll is live from Boston with the latest --Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kris, a lot of people are disappointed because of the archdiocese's decision. Again, as you said, the archdiocese of Boston deciding to back out of a settlement agreement they had reached with 86 plaintiffs, people who say they were abused by defrocked priest John Gaghan. Gaghan is now serving a jail term for molesting a young, boy but there are allegations that he abused some 200 children over the years.

The archdiocese said it had to pull out of the agreement which could have cost up to $30 million because they said there are more civil cases involving other priests, namely Paul Shanley, that are still out there.

DAVID SMITH, CHANCELLOR OF BOSTON ARCHDIOCESE: The plain and simple fact is that it is an evolving story. We do not have in hand nearly enough information to determine the scope of the situation. We don't know who the victims are, we don't know who the alleged perpetrators are, we don't know the time lines. We do not know, therefore, what insurance monies might be available. We don't know what might be just and speculation about what it will take to settle this at this point is just irresponsible.

CARROLL: An attorney who represents the 86 plaintiffs in the Gaghan civil suit told me this morning that he is outraged. He says as late as Thursday, attorneys for the archdiocese told him that there was enough money for the settlement.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What kind of examples are they setting? They're purportedly the most moral institution in the world, but they're evil. They're nothing but evil.

CARROLL: Cardinal Law who has come under heavy criticism for his handling of the crisis had actually indicated that he did want to reach some sort of a settlement in the Gaghan civil suit, but he was overruled by the archdiocese financial council -- Chris.

OSBORN: Jason Carroll, live in Boston. Thank you very much.

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