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CNN Live Today
Settlement Talks Going on in Boston This Morning
Aired September 09, 2003 - 11:02 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Settlement talks are on going in Boston this morning. They appear to be at a delicate stage. But all indications seem to point to a possible settlement of the 500-plus sex abuse cases against the archdiocese.
Our Boston bureau chief Dan Lothian is with us now live from Boston with details on this potential deal.
Dan, good morning.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Well, it has been a complicated negotiation process with many twists and turns. A now a source who told CNN this morning that an $85 million agreement has been reached now says -- quote -- "The leak has delayed things." Boston's archdiocese says that at this point all parties are working toward a settlement offer, but nothing yet. Archbishop Sean O'Malley is in Washington D.C., but has been actively involved in the process, taking part in a secret meeting over the weekend.
If things move forward, it would mean closure for some 542 alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse, with cases dating back to the 1950s. Many of them have said that their cases are not about money, but about getting apologies and promises of changes in the church. One attorney who represents some of the victims, alleged victims, talked about this latest tern on his way to a settlement meeting this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITCHELL GARABEDIAN, PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY: Time will tell. We're not sure if we can. We're trying to work things out. Everyone is working diligently. Everyone is working very hard. Hopefully, we can come to a resolution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: A spokesperson for the archdiocese says the church also hopes that a resolution can be reached soon -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And, Dan, how much credit to this is going to the new archbishop in Boston, a man, Archbishop O'Malley, who has been brought in in other troubled archdioceses before to try to settle situations, certainly not as big as this, but big crisis in other areas.
LOTHIAN: That is correct, Daryn. He was involved in a high- profile case 11 years ago, went in, was able to prevent a settlement there. When he came and took over in Boston, lot of the victims said they felt good about. It they thought this was their best chance of reaching an agreement. He certainly has played a vital role in the negotiations and indeed they do come to this final pact. He will be a key player in it.
KAGAN: Dan Lothian in Boston, thank you.
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 September 9, 2003 - 11:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Settlement talks are on going in Boston this morning. They appear to be at a delicate stage. But all indications seem to point to a possible settlement of the 500-plus sex abuse cases against the archdiocese.
Our Boston bureau chief Dan Lothian is with us now live from Boston with details on this potential deal.
Dan, good morning.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Well, it has been a complicated negotiation process with many twists and turns. A now a source who told CNN this morning that an $85 million agreement has been reached now says -- quote -- "The leak has delayed things." Boston's archdiocese says that at this point all parties are working toward a settlement offer, but nothing yet. Archbishop Sean O'Malley is in Washington D.C., but has been actively involved in the process, taking part in a secret meeting over the weekend.
If things move forward, it would mean closure for some 542 alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse, with cases dating back to the 1950s. Many of them have said that their cases are not about money, but about getting apologies and promises of changes in the church. One attorney who represents some of the victims, alleged victims, talked about this latest tern on his way to a settlement meeting this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITCHELL GARABEDIAN, PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY: Time will tell. We're not sure if we can. We're trying to work things out. Everyone is working diligently. Everyone is working very hard. Hopefully, we can come to a resolution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LOTHIAN: A spokesperson for the archdiocese says the church also hopes that a resolution can be reached soon -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And, Dan, how much credit to this is going to the new archbishop in Boston, a man, Archbishop O'Malley, who has been brought in in other troubled archdioceses before to try to settle situations, certainly not as big as this, but big crisis in other areas.
LOTHIAN: That is correct, Daryn. He was involved in a high- profile case 11 years ago, went in, was able to prevent a settlement there. When he came and took over in Boston, lot of the victims said they felt good about. It they thought this was their best chance of reaching an agreement. He certainly has played a vital role in the negotiations and indeed they do come to this final pact. He will be a key player in it.
KAGAN: Dan Lothian in Boston, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
