Cardinal O'Malley continues reflections on sex-abuse scandal
January 06, 2012
Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley once again spoke at length on the impact of the sex-abuse scandal in an interview with John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter.
Cardinal O’Malley’s interview continued an unusual public-relations offensive on the 10th anniversary of an investigative report that caused the eruption of the scandal in Boston. The cardinal, who rarely speaks to the media, also recently sat for interviews with the Boston Globe the National Catholic Register, and at least one Boston television station.
In his session with Allen, Cardinal O’Malley spoke about the sensitivity of his current relations with his predecessor in Boston, Cardinal Bernard Law, who resigned because of his role in the scandal. When asked whether Bishop Robert Finn should resign from his post in Kansas City, Cardinal O’Malley did not reply directly, but said: “Obviously, there can be times when resignation is the best response, as we saw in Boston.”
Addressing the question of false accusations against Catholic priests, the cardinal said: “I also think that false accusations are still few and far between.”
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Further information:
- O'Malley on the sex abuse crisis: 'It's not behind us' (National Catholic Reporter)
- On 10th anniversary of Boston scandal, Cardinal O'Malley speaks of recovery (CWN, 1/2)
- Boston Globe interviews Cardinal O'Malley, 10 years after breaking scandal story (CWN, 1/3)
- Ten Years Later, the Church in Boston Struggles to Recover (On the News, 1/5)
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Posted by: koinonia -
Jan. 08, 2012 8:25 AM ET USA
The Bishop Finn case is much different than that of Cardinal Law. The former did not exhibit the disturbing negligence and disregard for known acts of abuse against children that were tolerated and that were effectively allowed to continue unchecked under Cardinal Law. Cardinal O'Malley's response seems to suggest that the two cases have more in common than the facts to date have indicated. He also seems to be unaware of the significant percentage of false accusations against priests.
