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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.


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