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New Legal Troubles for Catholic Bishop

Aired June 17, 2003 - 15:33   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: New legal troubles for the Roman Catholic bishop of Phoenix. Thomas O'Brien has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal hit and run accident. He recently avoided possible prosecution on charges that he covered up priest sex abuse.
Frank Buckley is in Phoenix now. He joins me live with the latest -- Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, if Bishop Thomas O'Brien is convicted of the crime of leaving a fatal hit-and- run accident, he could spend up to nearly four years in prison. Last night he had his first court appearance in connection with the accident that happened on Saturday night. His arrest generating a great deal of interest here among the local media.

His arrest on Monday came after police went to his home and found his car. It had obviously been involved in an accident. The front windshield of the car shattered and caved in on the passenger side.

Police say Bishop O'Brien himself told investigators that he hit something, but that he thought it was a dog or a cat, or that someone had perhaps thrown a rock at the windshield. Police say actually, though, O'Brien hit 43-year-old Jim Reed as Reed crossed the street mid-block. That is, outside of a crosswalk.

Authorities say there could be additional charges if O'Brien is found to have been drinking. They say, though, that may not be so easy to determine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK ROMLEY, MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY: We do have some information that the bishop was attending some confirmations earlier in the day, and we want to go back and just be asking those questions. Whether it will result in any additional evidence to show that there was impairment while he was driving, which might result in additional charges, is very problematic and it's difficult. And I won't be able to comment until I know what the facts are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: All of this comes just a couple of weeks after O'Brien acknowledged that priests who had been accused of sexual abuse, priests that were under his supervision were allowed to continue working in the diocese, allowed to move from parish to parish without the knowledge of the parishioners or even their supervisors.

O'Brien keeping that information to himself. He acknowledged that in an agreement with county authorities in which he gave up some of his powers, donated hundreds of thousands of dollars from the diocese to various funds to assist victims and acknowledged that, yes, indeed, he knew about the allegations of sex abuse but still allowed these priests to continue on.

So, all of this happening. This hit-and-run accident taking place in the context of that with that as a backdrop. As you can imagine, Kyra, people here are stunned.

PHILLIPS: Well, Frank, meanwhile, what is O'Brien doing now? Do you think he will resign? How was his reaction today when the charges were read?

BUCKLEY: Well, first on the reaction, no visible reaction that we could see. Today we wondered if he might come down here to the diocese to show up to work; he did not. So, no reaction so far.

As to whether or not he will resign, as you know, he really serves at the pleasure of the pope. He has said that himself in the past when the question came up with regard to the sex abuse scandal. He in fact issued a statement in which he said, "I serve at the pleasure of the pope, not of the county attorney." So, there's no indication so far, anyway, that he intends to resign.

PHILLIPS: Our Frank Buckley live from Phoenix, Arizona. Thanks, Frank.

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 June 17, 2003 - 15:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: New legal troubles for the Roman Catholic bishop of Phoenix. Thomas O'Brien has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal hit and run accident. He recently avoided possible prosecution on charges that he covered up priest sex abuse.
Frank Buckley is in Phoenix now. He joins me live with the latest -- Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, if Bishop Thomas O'Brien is convicted of the crime of leaving a fatal hit-and- run accident, he could spend up to nearly four years in prison. Last night he had his first court appearance in connection with the accident that happened on Saturday night. His arrest generating a great deal of interest here among the local media.

His arrest on Monday came after police went to his home and found his car. It had obviously been involved in an accident. The front windshield of the car shattered and caved in on the passenger side.

Police say Bishop O'Brien himself told investigators that he hit something, but that he thought it was a dog or a cat, or that someone had perhaps thrown a rock at the windshield. Police say actually, though, O'Brien hit 43-year-old Jim Reed as Reed crossed the street mid-block. That is, outside of a crosswalk.

Authorities say there could be additional charges if O'Brien is found to have been drinking. They say, though, that may not be so easy to determine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK ROMLEY, MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY: We do have some information that the bishop was attending some confirmations earlier in the day, and we want to go back and just be asking those questions. Whether it will result in any additional evidence to show that there was impairment while he was driving, which might result in additional charges, is very problematic and it's difficult. And I won't be able to comment until I know what the facts are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: All of this comes just a couple of weeks after O'Brien acknowledged that priests who had been accused of sexual abuse, priests that were under his supervision were allowed to continue working in the diocese, allowed to move from parish to parish without the knowledge of the parishioners or even their supervisors.

O'Brien keeping that information to himself. He acknowledged that in an agreement with county authorities in which he gave up some of his powers, donated hundreds of thousands of dollars from the diocese to various funds to assist victims and acknowledged that, yes, indeed, he knew about the allegations of sex abuse but still allowed these priests to continue on.

So, all of this happening. This hit-and-run accident taking place in the context of that with that as a backdrop. As you can imagine, Kyra, people here are stunned.

PHILLIPS: Well, Frank, meanwhile, what is O'Brien doing now? Do you think he will resign? How was his reaction today when the charges were read?

BUCKLEY: Well, first on the reaction, no visible reaction that we could see. Today we wondered if he might come down here to the diocese to show up to work; he did not. So, no reaction so far.

As to whether or not he will resign, as you know, he really serves at the pleasure of the pope. He has said that himself in the past when the question came up with regard to the sex abuse scandal. He in fact issued a statement in which he said, "I serve at the pleasure of the pope, not of the county attorney." So, there's no indication so far, anyway, that he intends to resign.

PHILLIPS: Our Frank Buckley live from Phoenix, Arizona. Thanks, Frank.

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