Cardinal Denies Knowledge, Apologizes Again

BOSTON -- In a letter sent to parishioners this weekend, Boston Cardinal Bernard Law defended himself regarding the priest sex abuse scandal plaguing the archdiocese, writing about when he first knew of allegations against Fr. Paul Shanley.

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NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that for months the public has been hearing from lawyers and victims regarding the allegations, while the cardinal, for the most part, remained silent.

But late on Pentecost Sunday Law released a letter he sent to parishioners in which he apologized. It was his first comprehensive response since the revelations first began surfacing early this year.

In the letter, Law apologized again for errors in judgement, defending himself against critics who have claimed he was negligent in his handling of priests who were accused of sexually molesting and attacking children.

Regarding Shanley, whose authorization to be a priest Law rescinded in 1993, the cardinal states, "Before God I assure you that my first knowledge of an allegation of sexual abuse against this priest was in 1993. I was not aware until these recent months of the allegations against him from as early as 1966."

Law wrote, "It has been reported that someone alleges I was informed after a Mass in 1984 that Fr. Shanley had molested a child. I have absolutely no memory of such a conversation."

That person was Jacquelin Gauvreau of Newton, Mass., who in February told NewsCenter 5 that she had confronted Law with the allegation.

"I looked him straight in the face and I told him," she said.

On the subject of abuse, Law stated that, "The 1993 policy did not mandate reporting to public authorities because it was felt doing so would inhibit some victims from coming forward."

But the attorney for some of the victims said that the opposite is true.

"Well, look at what has happened. What has happened of course is that victims have come forward publicly and then many, many more people who lived in silence, who lived in fear, who thought that they were the only ones, they've come forward," said attorney Eric MacLeish.

The three-page letter was to be read to all parishioners. In it Law said, "My credibility has been publicly questioned and I have become for some the object of contempt. I wish I could undo the hurt and harm."