sponsor
Homepage > Boston News
E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters

Videotapes Of Law Deposition Released

Cardinal Wishes Abuse Policy Was Different

POSTED: 5:14 pm EST November 19, 2002

The last videotapes of Cardinal Bernard Law's deposition in the Boston Archdiocese sex abuse scandal have been released.

Video
NewsCenter 5's Kelley Tuthill said that the new tapes include testimony about retired priest Paul Shanley and Law's handling of abuse complaints against Shanley.

"The policy was a policy of delegation," Law said. "I trusted those who had the delegated authority to handle that matter in as appropriate way as possible."

But, no one apparently dealt with Shanley, despite letters of complaints from a woman who heard him speak in 1985 and a patient from MacLean Hospital who said Shanley came on to him while serving as chaplain, Tuthill said.

"Yes, this should have been pursued further," Law said.

"He cannot blame subordinates. His subordinates can't blame the priest. He's the head of the ship yet, and he has to be responsible for what he didn't do," an alleged victim's father, Rodney Ford, said.

"I wish that the policy had been different earlier, but I can't make it different by sitting here and wish it so," Law said.

One priest returned to ministry was defrocked priest John Geoghan, who allegedly molested Christopher Fulchino in 1989 after receiving treatment for abusing other children.

"I have question for him -- does (he) have common sense?" Christopher Fulchino's mother, Susan, said. "Should he be leading archdiocese? I don't want him here. I can't trust him."

"I regret as deeply as I can what they have suffered and what they are suffering now. I hope and I pray that somehow, this process, painful as it is for them, might somehow bring help bring some measure closure and some measure of peace," Law said.

Ford, however, said that this is far from over for his family. He called on Catholics to continue to withhold donations from the cardinal and instead give directly those in need.

Ford said that is the best way to ensure the archdiocese makes necessary changes.


Links We Like
Sponsored Content
Herpes simplex is more common than you’d think. Learn to recognize the 5 types. More

A little short on space? Learn how to make the best of your limited square footage with these helpful tips to better small home style. More

Find out what a sputtering economy and an increasingly difficult to crack job market means to you. More

Check out the New Model Showcase and see all the new cars that will be hitting the roads for 2009. More

Don’t be left out. Make the switch to Digital TV.
Dr Pepper will make good on a promise to give out a free soda to everyone in America as a long-delayed "Guns N' Roses" album becomes reality. More


PhotoVote
Check out this week's PhotoVote contest, "Generations Gathering"
Plus, navigate through our archives.
Favorites: Cute Kittens | Odd Couples | Oops
Sponsored Links

Job Searching Tips

If you take the time to identify your transferable skills, you can convince employers that you have the core skills necessary to excel in your new career choice. More