Clergy React To Law's Perceived Apology

BOSTON -- There's more reaction Monday to what may be Cardinal Bernard Law's strongest apology since the clergy sex abuse scandal broke.

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Watch Amalia Barreda's Report

NewsCenter 5's Amalia Barreda said that his words came during Mass Sunday.

"Particularly, I ask forgiveness of those who have been abused and of their parents and other family members," Law said during Mass.

An obviously grieving Law offered his most detailed apology yet -- just days after an emotional face-to-face meeting with the alleged victims of the late Rev. Joseph Birmingham.

"I think what the cardinal said yesterday and the experiences he's been through and the meetings he's had with the priests have set a new direction. I feel that the people want to get on. We want to rebuild trust and confidence," Our Lady of Sorrows the Rev. Robert Bullock said.

"I made assignments which I now recognize were wrong," Law said.

Theologians said that the admission of wrongdoing, apologizing for it and asking for forgiveness are among the requirements for true repentance.

Boston College professor Thomas Groome said that it all may serve to restore confidence in the cardinal as the leader of Boston Catholics.

"It certainly raised my admiration for him and gave hope that maybe indeed he can still be an effective leader for the Catholic community of Boston," Groome said.

Yet, some said that the cardinal's words were a little too late, according to some people.

"There's a kind of smallness about that, almost a kind of mean-spiritedness about that that I think should be addressed and rethought. All right, it's late. It's taken along time. It's 10 months, but it's happened and it's happened in ways that are powerful and direct, unequivocal and abject. What more do people want?" Bullock said.

Bullock and Groome said that the cardinal must continue down this path, establishing a pastoral plan that will call for meetings with all the victims of clergy sexual abuse.

Bullock said that every parish in the archdiocese needs to have a visit from the cardinal and discussions about moving forward in a way that assures the safety of children and re-establishes confidence in him.