BOSTON -- A Massachusetts father and son who were both allegedly abused by priests said Friday that they were hopeful Cardinal Bernard Law's resignation would help heal victims of abuse.
NewsCenter 5's Susan Wornick reported that Chris Fulchino celebrated his 26th birthday Friday listening to reports that Law had resigned in the wake of the continuing sex abuse scandal.
"I think for myself, emotionally, seeing him step down, it starts [the healing] process, because it shows that he is in some ways admitting fault for his cover-up and for his actions," Fulchino said.
Fulchino was 12 when John Geoghan became his parish priest. Law had transferred Geoghan to St. Julia's in Weston, Mass., after allegations surfaced that Geoghan molested children in Dorchester.
Fulchino said that he became another victim soon after. It took him years to tell anyone.
"I was afraid of what people would think of me," he said. "Not just my friends or family members, but people I didn't know."
It took Fulchino 12 years, but one night after watching news reports about how Geoghan had molested others, he said to his parents that it had happened to him.
"I really was just devastated, because I was so protective of all the kids," said his father, Tom Fulchino. "I really wouldn't let them be alone with a priest."
Tom Fulchino had been protective because he was afraid. He never wanted his children to go through what he says he experienced 40 years ago at the hands of then-priest James Porter.
Both Porter and Geoghan have been convicted of child molestation charges.
The Fulchinos said they are hoping that the church moves toward a new mentality of protecting children Law gone.
"I respect [Law] as a human being," Chris Fulchino said. "I just don't think that I could ever forgive him for letting this man hurt me and then letting this man hurt so many other people."
The Fulchinos called Law's resignation a small victory but a good start toward the long task of bringing credibility back to the Archdiocese of Boston and the Catholic Church.
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