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American Morning

Interview with Paula Ford, Sister Marie LaBollita

Aired May 06, 2002 - 09:06   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: Over the weekend, as you heard Cardinal Law defend the decision to back out on deals for financial settlements with victims of convicted priest, John Geoghan but now the church has to deal with another priest involved in the scandal until the Boston Archdiocese, Father Paul Shanley.

The priest, who on Friday waived an extradition hearing in San Diego, will soon face rape charges in Massachusetts. He stands accused of repeatedly raping young Greg Ford while serving as a Roman Catholic priest in the Boston area.

And joining us now to discuss the case and the decision by the archdiocese to back out of a multi-million dollar settlement are Paula Ford, Greg Ford's mother, and Sister Marie LaBollita, the nun the boy confided to about being allegedly abused by Shanley. Good morning, good to have both of you with us.

SISTER MARIE LABOLLITA, PASTORAL ASSOCIATE: Good morning, Paula.

ZAHN: Mrs. Ford, I know you don't do many interviews at all. We really thank you for being with us this morning. When you heard that this decision had been made to step away from this multi-million dollar settlement, what did you think?

PAULA FORD, MOTHER OF ABUSE VICTIM: I felt like the victims were being re-victimized again.

ZAHN: Let me read for a second what one of the advisers to the archdiocese had to say about the decision Cardinal Law came to in the "New York Times" disappeared on condition of amenity by the spokesperson who was spoken to.

If they go to court, then the archdiocese will use all of its defenses including charitable immunity, statute of limitations, first amendment. Basically when the church announces a global solution, you don't have to trust them. You have two choices, go to mediation, go to court and get $20,000. How this will affect your son's case?

FORD: We're looking for the truth first and foremost. And we're looking for change so that this doesn't ever have to happen again. I mean, I don't see the church, you know, reaching out to the victims by forcing them to go to court and not giving them, you know, the therapy that they need, you know what they say and what they actually do I can vouch for it. We're not getting any help that we need. ZAHN: I know you brought along with you, and we're going to show of this on the screen now, pictures taken of your family with Father Shanley, the man you all have accused of abusing your son. He was a trusted family friend, a spiritual adviser. Why was it important for you to share these pictures with us this morning?

FORD: Well, let me make one thing clear. He wasn't a good friend to us. He was merely our pastor. We went to church. We listened to him, homilies. We liked him. We sent the children to CCD. We didn't bring our children to him for counseling. We didn't, you know have dinner with him. We didn't socialize with him. He was merely the pastor. So we just want to make it clear that, yes, it was my son Greg but you know what, it could have been any other child.

ZAHN: You actually have some videotape, too, of Reverend Shanley performing and singing with children at a variety show at church. As you look at these pictures is there anything - any alarm that should have gone off?

FORD: Absolutely not. The fact of the matter is that he really pulled everyone.

ZAHN: How many years do you think it was before you even knew your son was suffering at what he says was the abuse by Father Shanley?

FORD: We did not know until January 31, when "The Globe" did a spotlight piece on Father Paul Shanley. Until that time we had struggled with Greg in and out of hospitals since he had been 13. And you know, they kept saying that he showing classic signs of sexual abuse but we weren't able to target anyone. And the fact of the matter is, not once did any of us ever think that it would have been at the hands of the church.

ZAHN: When you see pictures of Father Shanley, what are you thinking about today?

FORD: I can't - I can't put any energy towards Father Shanley. We just have to be careful and take care of Greg because even though Greg is 24, the victim is six. And I think I can speak for all of the victims out there right now that this - they need to focus on their healing and not Paul Shanley. He can't hurt them any more.

ZAHN: Sister Marie describe to us what it was like when Paula Ford came to you and told you what was going on with her family and Father Shanley?

LABOLLITA: When Paula came and told me what was happening I was absolutely horrified. I was in the state of shock, not to the degree, obviously, that Paula was in the state of shock but I was shocked to think that this could happen to a child by a priest. And it just sends shivers through my whole body. My heart just ached for Paula and Rodney and for Greg for Greg's sister Catherine (ph). I just don't know how you cope with a family with that kind of news. So my heart was really broken for them, Paula.

ZAHN: And what angered you the most, when Paula started to share the details of what Greg ultimately admitted to having experienced?

LABOLLITA: Well I guess Paula there was a double anger. First of all the anger at Paul Shanley for having done this to a child and for being a priest who has a sacred trust and a bond with children, I just couldn't believe that he could do such a thing.

But I was also very angry at the hierarchy of the church, especially our leadership here in Boston, who had covered this up and didn't give any warning whatsoever to the parishioners of St. Jean's that Paul Shanley was this type of a man. It blew my mind.

ZAHN: And Paula just a final word this morning to other families out there who have been standing on the sidelines not wanting to take the church to the court on the heals of the decision about backing away from this multimillion-dollar settlement. What is your advice to them?

FORD: My advice to them in order to move forward, you know, they need to feel empowered. They can take back control of their lives now, for whoever the priest is at hand. They need to speak out so that this won't happen again to other children.

ZAHN: Well, Paula Ford and Sister Marie LaBollita, we really appreciate your time this morning. And we will stay in touch with you. Paula, again, thanks for being on the air. I know you don't like to do interviews and we really appreciate your time this morning.

FORD: Thank you.

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