Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Sunday

Fallout Mounts in Boston Archdiocese

Aired May 05, 2002 - 18:11   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Well the political and financial fallout from sex abuse claims against priests continues to mount, and especially in Boston, where the embattled Cardinal Law has become a liability of sorts. Here's CNN's Gary Tuchman with the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): On a beautiful Sunday morning, protesters were in an ugly mood as they waited for Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law to exit the Holy Cross Cathedral. These demonstrators want Law to resign because of the child sexual abuse scandal, and they literally chased his car into the street. Earlier inside the Cathedral the cardinal talked about the scandal.

CARDINAL BERNARD LAW, ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON: These are very difficult days.

TUCHMAN: And with that in mind, said an archdiocese decision on Thursday to withdraw victim financial settlements was due to, as he put it, a laudable concern.

LAW: Justice and equity would not be served by agreeing to this settlement for 86 persons, which would thereby negatively affect the response which the archdiocese can later make to the other victims.

TUCHMAN: The church says an additional 150 people have come forward. The latest troubles for the cardinal come on the same weekend he is kicked off the annual campaign which funds archdiocese expenses, and churches throughout the archdiocese collection baskets were put out for the normal weekly offering and special donations in a white envelope for the annual fund. The Boston church finds itself in a theological Catch-22.

TUCHMAN (on camera): Although many priests here find it necessary and important to discuss the scandal within the church with their parishioners, they also know that such discussions are not inherently conducive to increasing donations.

LAW: And so, it is for that reason that I make this appeal so earnestly to you to be heroically generous this year in your response to the cardinal's appeal.

TUCHMAN (voice over): Over at the St. Paul Church in Cambridge, this parishioner agrees with that message. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to support the church and the good things that the Catholic Church has done and is continuing to do.

TUCHMAN: The Archdiocese claims annual fund money will not be used to pay legal settlements, but not all believe that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wouldn't give specifically to the cardinal's appeal now. I just don't have the same sense of trust that I used to.

TUCHMAN: For his part, the cardinal gives no sign of any plans to step down and keeps his comments limited to the pulpit. Gary Tuchman, CNN, Boston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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