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American Morning

Documents Show Catholic Leaders Had Evidence Shanley Was Psychologically Damaged Beyond Repair

Aired May 15, 2002 - 08:40   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: It may be the strongest statement today that the Boston archdiocese knew just how dangerous father Paul Shanley was, yet still allowed him access to children. Just released documents show the Catholic leaders in the early 1990s had evidence that Shanley was psychologically damaged beyond repair. Shanley is now being held on three counts of allegedly raping a child in the 1980s. A court had ordered the release of Shanley's medical history in response to a request by the family of Gregory Ford, another one of Shanley's alleged victims.

Joining us now from Boston to talk about the latest revelation in this ongoing sex scandal is Rodney Ford, Gregory Ford's father, and attorney Roderick Macleish.

Welcome back, gentlemen.

RODNEY FORD, FATHER OF ALLEGED ABUSE VICTIM: Good morning.

RODERICK MACLEISH, ATTORNEY: Good morning.

ZAHN: I wanted to start off by sharing some of the startling conclusions that were released yesterday that came from these medical records of Paul Shanley. Let's quickly put up on the screen a part of this assessment. One: "Father Shanley is so personally damaged that his pathology is beyond repair. It can not be reversed. Two: Father Shanley cannot do any kind of ministry. Three: How do we protect others from him? Could he be laicized? What is important that he does not practice as a priest?"

Yet, even after this assessment, cardinal Law and the Boston archdiocese was still giving Shanley good recommendations.

What were they thinking, Mr. Ford?

FORD: Well, that's a very good question. What were they thinking? At some point in time, someone has to take responsibility for their actions. To let Paul Shanley run loose like they did was unthinkable. He harmed so many innocent children, including my son. At some point in time, the cardinal has to take responsibility for this.

I had compared him yesterday to a magician. He makes these files appear and disappear at an appropriate time for him. It's a disgrace. ZAHN: Do you think he'll ever be punished for what you see as his crime?

FORD: I think in due time, he will be punished.

ZAHN: Mr. Macleish, let's review what another document revealed. In one document the reverend asked -- Shanley asked the archdiocese for money and then he signs the letter, "Job, formerly Paul Shanley." What is that all about?

MACLEISH: This is just more evidence of Paul Shanley's Pathology. You know, Paula, it is important that after the previous letter you put up about his pathology being beyond repair, that Paul Shanley went to Leo house in New York where nuns raised allegations about him molesting children, and the Boston archdiocese said, oh, he's fine, don't worry, we want him there.

Now, the other thing this first document raises, Paula, is that at the time that document was written by a senior person within the archdiocese, now the bishop of New Hampshire, Mr. Ford's son, Greg Ford, was disintegrating. So there was not only an obligation to protect others, but there was a moral and spiritual obligation to go back.

I represent five young men, including Greg, from this parish. Why didn't somebody do something to help these children? Greg was putting his arms through windows in psychiatric facilities, rotating them, trying to kill himself, confronting his family. His family stuck with him. You know, why didn't anybody go back and realize this man, Shanley, had left a trail of victims?

ZAHN: And, Mr. Ford, you obviously believe it's cardinal Law's fault that Shanley was shuffled from parish to parish, and you say at some point, you hope he is punished for his actions. How much responsibility does the cardinal bear for what you say happened to your son?

FORD: He was told on two occasions by a woman in Newton that he was -- that father Shanley was a child molester. He paid no attention to her. And in fact, what he did, he promoted Shanley to pastor. That's a promotion. That's a disgrace. When you're in such a position as a leader, you should be looking into the files if you're going to make someone -- give someone a position like that, and he never took any time to look into these files.

ZAHN: And I know, Mr. Ford, in previous appearances, you talked about how devastating it was to see documents, to see diary readings, when you read this psychological assessment, what was your first reaction?

FORD: Well, I haven't read them personally myself, ma'am, but speaking -- listening to Mr. Macleish talk about them, we were so upset yesterday that we had to leave. I couldn't listen to it any further. I just you put my eyes into my son's eyes, and I just could see what he went through.

ZAHN: How is he holding up?

FORD: He's doing OK.

ZAHN: Does he feel vindicated now that there seems to be document after document that would seem to reinforce his allegations?

FORD: He does. And he knows Shanley is behind bars now and he can't hurt any other kids. He feels a little better about that, but he still has his memories that he has to deal with.

ZAHN: Was there a time when he felt the church leader simply didn't believe him?

FORD: Why wouldn't they believe him? I mean, these revelations are just coming forward to us three months ago. There's so many facts that are coming into these cases that, how can anyone dispute this?

MACLEISH: But if I could say...

ZAHN: I'm not suggesting anybody should but, Mr. Macleish, I think you said before there are still victims out there who will not come forward because they don't want to have their credibility assaulted.

MACLEISH: Paula, there are victims who are no longer with us. There are victims who have passed away. The church is playing hardball from a legal standpoint. But, you know, the events yesterday in Baltimore, that's not the way to proceed. Violence is not the answer. But what it points to is the need -- and we don't have it here in Boston -- the victims' need to have access to therapy.

Here in Boston, if you want access to therapy funds, you still have to go to the chancery and meet with their officials. They've got to do something about that. This tragedy in Baltimore yesterday, it can't be repeated. It's not the way to go, but it points to the need for real mental health assistance for victims.

ZAHN: Mr. Ford, I wanted to close with that tragedy in Baltimore, and leave the audience with this picture of you shaking hands with cardinal Law a long time ago when you were a police officer. The irony is that you had to protect this man, right?

FORD: Correct. The irony is little did I know when I was shaking his hand that he would have a direct role in sending my family to hell. And also it's my part of my duties is to patrol the chancery where he lives. I'm able to protect him when he needed it, but he wasn't able to protect my son years ago when we needed it.

ZAHN: Mr. Ford, I know your attorney said violence isn't the way to go. But did you ever consider hurting Mr. Law in any way for what you say your son suffered from basically at the hands of his leadership?

FORD: No, ma'am, and I never will. He will have to face it when he goes before God himself. He will be judged, and the criminal process, I'm sure, will take place in the near future for him. ZAHN: All right, gentlemen, always good of you to join us on AMERICAN MORNING.

Rodney Ford, Roderick Macleish, again, thanks for your time. I appreciate it very much.

Good luck.

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