Boston archdiocese installs new leader
BOSTON (AP) — Sean Patrick O'Malley begged forgiveness from the victims of clergy sexual abuse Wednesday as he was installed as the new Roman Catholic archbishop of Boston and promised a new start for a community fractured by scandal.
Newly-installed Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley prepares communion during his first mass as the new archbishop of Boston.
By David Ryan, AP
During a ceremony marked by simplicity and humor, O'Malley asked for prayers and help as he tries to rebuild the archdiocese, heal the wounds of victims and restore the confidence of ordinary Catholics.
O'Malley, a Capuchin Franciscan friar, also made it a point to thank "so many good priests struggling to make sense out of it all," a remark which drew sustained applause from the approximately 900 clergymen in the audience at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
"The whole Catholic community is ashamed and anguished because of the pain and damage inflicted on so many young people and because of our inability or unwillingness to deal with the crime of sexual abuse of minors," O'Malley said in his homily.
"To those victims and to their families, we beg forgiveness and assure them that the Catholic church is working to create a safe environment for young people."
O'Malley, 59, is the sixth archbishop of Boston, and has one of the best reputations among national Catholic leaders for dealing with abuse-related issues.
He succeeds Cardinal Bernard Law, who resigned in December as evidence mounted that church leaders shuffled abusive priests from parish to parish to keep allegations against them secret and spare the church scandal.
More than 500 lawsuits are pending from people who claim they were sexually abused by priests over the past six decades. A report by the state attorney general said it's likely more than 1,000 people were abused by hundreds of priests since 1940.
The installation ceremony at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross was low-key in comparison to the usual pomp and circumstance, in keeping with O'Malley's humble demeanor as a friar and in deference to the victims of abuse.
O'Malley also asked to be called by his first name, and will be known as "Archbishop Sean."
Gary Bergeron, 41, who said both he and his younger brother were sexually abused by the late Rev. Joseph Birmingham in the 1970s, was one of dozens of alleged victims who were invited to attend the installation ceremony. Some chose to decline the invitation, but Bergeron attended with his parents.
"I think that his message was on target on all aspects," Bergeron said of O'Malley's homily. "Today is the first time I've felt a compassion from a church official in a long, long time."
The ceremony had some light moments, as when O'Malley — who has had assignments in Florida and the Caribbean — talked about the "lovely vacation spots" where he has served as bishop.
"My Provincial used to say, 'O'Malley, when will get a real job?' Well, Brother Paul, does this count?" O'Malley said, prompting laughter from the crowd of 2,500.
Several dozen protesters were stationed outside. It's been a familiar scene outside the cathedral — where the archbishop traditionally celebrates Mass — and many returned to remind the church they remain skeptical of its efforts to heal those harmed by decades of abuse.
One sign read: "Different robe, same secrets," a reference to O'Malley's trademark brown robe of the Capuchin order.
John Harris, 45, of Norwood, who says he was abused by the Rev. Paul Shanley, was among those outside the cathedral.
"Inside there, nothing holy is going on," Harris said. "This is damage control. There will be no justice until we see people behind bars."
O'Malley was tapped by the pope in 1992 to clean up the mess left in the Fall River Diocese by serial pedophile priest James Porter. Last October, he was sent to Palm Beach, Fla., where his two immediate predecessors resigned after confessing to molesting children.
In Fall River, O'Malley was praised for reaching out to victims and instituting reforms that included mandatory background checks and abuse prevention training.
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Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
Monday, July 21, 2003
No Charges for Boston Church Leaders
BOSTON (AP) — Top officials in Boston's Roman Catholic Archdiocese will not face criminal charges for keeping abusive priests in church parishes, a spokesman for the attorney general said — a major blow for alleged victims who hoped church leaders would be held accountable.
Mitchell Garabedian, an attorney for more than 100 alleged abuse victims, expressed disappointment upon hearing word that a state attorney general's report to be released this week would rule out charges.
"Given the number of tragedies that have occurred by these sexual molestations and the allowance of these sexual molestations, many of my clients were hoping that there would be indictments so church leaders and individuals would be held responsible," he said.
Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly's report, based in part on an investigation by the state grand jury he convened, suggests changes to prevent future abuse but stopped short of charges, according to WBZ-TV of Boston, which cited an unidentified source who has reviewed the document.
Reilly spokesman Corey Welford told The Associated Press on Sunday that the attorney general would not immediately release the document, but confirmed that the television report was accurate.
Archdiocese spokesman the Rev. Christopher J. Coyne said he could not comment until the report was made public.
Gary Bergeron, 41, one of 54 men who say they were abused by the late Rev. Joseph E. Birmingham, said he never expected top church officials to be charged.
"I am not surprised there are no indictments because of the way the laws were written," Bergeron said. "But it's unfortunate that, for all intents and purposes, men who agreed to sanction the abuse of children throughout the years cannot be indicted."
The grand jury investigated whether the former Boston archbishop, Cardinal Bernard F. Law, and many of his top aides, some of whom are now bishops in other dioceses, could be held criminally responsible for moving priests from parish to parish even when they knew of abuse allegations. Law was among those who testified before the grand jury.
Reilly said in April that it would be difficult to indict church supervisors for allowing abusive priests to remain in parish work because of weak child protection laws in Massachusetts when the abuse took place. Reilly came to the same conclusion after the grand jury investigation, according to the report.
Law resigned as archbishop in December, after nearly a year of criticism over his role in allowing abusive priests to remain in parish work. Bishop Sean Patrick O'Malley was named July 1 as his successor, and will be installed as archbishop at the end of the month. Bishop Richard Lennon has served as interim head of the archdiocese since Law's resignation.
In addition to Law, at least eight other top officials in the Boston Archdiocese were subpoenaed to answer questions about their handling of complaints against priests, including the Rev. Thomas V. Daily, now bishop in Brooklyn, N.Y.; the Rev. Robert J. Banks, now bishop in Green Bay, Wis.; and the Rev. John B. McCormack, now bishop in Manchester, N.H.
The attorney general's report suggested ways to prevent future abuse, including increasing penalties for failing to report suspected abuse and getting the church and laity to work more closely together to prevent abuse.
The archdiocese has instituted its own abuse policies, which Reilly has criticized as not tough enough.
After the abuse crisis broke last year, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a law that requires clergy members to report child sex abuse to state officials. Physicians, social workers, police officers and other professionals already had been required to make such reports.
The archdiocese is facing about 500 civil suits from alleged victims of clergy sex abuse. Church officials have repeatedly said they remain committed to working toward an out-of-court settlement.
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Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.
Mitchell Garabedian, an attorney for more than 100 alleged abuse victims, expressed disappointment upon hearing word that a state attorney general's report to be released this week would rule out charges.
"Given the number of tragedies that have occurred by these sexual molestations and the allowance of these sexual molestations, many of my clients were hoping that there would be indictments so church leaders and individuals would be held responsible," he said.
Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly's report, based in part on an investigation by the state grand jury he convened, suggests changes to prevent future abuse but stopped short of charges, according to WBZ-TV of Boston, which cited an unidentified source who has reviewed the document.
Reilly spokesman Corey Welford told The Associated Press on Sunday that the attorney general would not immediately release the document, but confirmed that the television report was accurate.
Archdiocese spokesman the Rev. Christopher J. Coyne said he could not comment until the report was made public.
Gary Bergeron, 41, one of 54 men who say they were abused by the late Rev. Joseph E. Birmingham, said he never expected top church officials to be charged.
"I am not surprised there are no indictments because of the way the laws were written," Bergeron said. "But it's unfortunate that, for all intents and purposes, men who agreed to sanction the abuse of children throughout the years cannot be indicted."
The grand jury investigated whether the former Boston archbishop, Cardinal Bernard F. Law, and many of his top aides, some of whom are now bishops in other dioceses, could be held criminally responsible for moving priests from parish to parish even when they knew of abuse allegations. Law was among those who testified before the grand jury.
Reilly said in April that it would be difficult to indict church supervisors for allowing abusive priests to remain in parish work because of weak child protection laws in Massachusetts when the abuse took place. Reilly came to the same conclusion after the grand jury investigation, according to the report.
Law resigned as archbishop in December, after nearly a year of criticism over his role in allowing abusive priests to remain in parish work. Bishop Sean Patrick O'Malley was named July 1 as his successor, and will be installed as archbishop at the end of the month. Bishop Richard Lennon has served as interim head of the archdiocese since Law's resignation.
In addition to Law, at least eight other top officials in the Boston Archdiocese were subpoenaed to answer questions about their handling of complaints against priests, including the Rev. Thomas V. Daily, now bishop in Brooklyn, N.Y.; the Rev. Robert J. Banks, now bishop in Green Bay, Wis.; and the Rev. John B. McCormack, now bishop in Manchester, N.H.
The attorney general's report suggested ways to prevent future abuse, including increasing penalties for failing to report suspected abuse and getting the church and laity to work more closely together to prevent abuse.
The archdiocese has instituted its own abuse policies, which Reilly has criticized as not tough enough.
After the abuse crisis broke last year, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a law that requires clergy members to report child sex abuse to state officials. Physicians, social workers, police officers and other professionals already had been required to make such reports.
The archdiocese is facing about 500 civil suits from alleged victims of clergy sex abuse. Church officials have repeatedly said they remain committed to working toward an out-of-court settlement.
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Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.
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