Catholic World News News Feature

Bernardin Memoirs Say Rival Priest Behind False Sex Abuse Charges January 30, 1997

CHICAGO (CWN) - The posthumous memoirs of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin published last week detail the belief of the late archbishop of Chicago that a priest was behind false allegations of sexual abuse in 1993.

Steven Cook, who attended St. Gregory Seminary in Cincinnati when Cardinal Bernardin was archbishop there, recanted the allegations against him in February 1994, just months before the young man died of AIDS. In his book, "The Gift of Peace, Personal Reflections," published by Loyola Press, the cardinal write of his meeting of reconciliation with Cook in which he learned that a "right-leaning" priest encouraged the young man to name the cardinal in his lawsuit.

Cook related that as a young seminarian he had been sexually abused by a priest on the faculty. Later, a lawyer put Cook in touch with a priest in another state to advise him spiritually. "Although Steven was pursuing a case only against his seminary teacher, his priest adviser began mentioning me, Cardinal Bernardin, suggesting that, if I were included in the case, Steven would surely get back what he wanted from the Church. This 'spiritual guide' pushed my name, urging Steven to name me along with the other priest in the legal action. He also urged Steven's mother to cooperate in this plan, sending her flowers as part of his effort to persuade her to support Steven's action," Cardinal Bernardin wrote.

The cardinal, who died of pancreatic cancer on November 14, finished his memoirs just days before succumbing to his illness. He refrained from naming the priest, but did say he was the same one who said on Chicago radio talk show that he believed the cardinal was guilty.

Stephen Rubino, a New Jersey lawyer who represented Cook, cast doubt on Cardinal Bernardin's claim that the unidentified priest wanted the cardinal added to the lawsuit. "Everything that I do know tells me that it did not happen," he said Wednesday.