Father Albert L. Capone, Pastor of St. Michael Parish in Lowell, Massachusetts requested that the Office of Public Relations for the Archdiocese of Boston fax to the media his statement in response to media coverage of his letter to parishioners in this week's parish bulletin. Father Capone has also asked that we relay to the media that he will not be granting interviews but referring media inquiries to the following statement.

Statement of Father L. Capone, Pastor of St. Michael Parish, Lowell, MA - 4/30/2002

In response to the media reports concerning my letter to parishioners of Saint Michael Parish printed in this week's Sunday bulletin, I wish to clarify the context in which it was intended and to clear up any misinformation that may have been reported in the media.

I have always been and continue to be completely supportive of the Cardinal's Annual Appeal and the Archdiocesan Capital Campaign the "Promise for Tomorrow."

The purpose of my letter to parishioners was to address the fact that we must come together as a parish to attend to our immediate needs by being with parishioners, victims of sexual abuse by priests, their families, and with all who are experiencing pain as a result of this present crisis. Now is a time of unity not division. We are one Archdiocese made up of many parts. We face head-on the difficulty of the reality of the past in the hope of healing in the present and future.

To allow Saint Michael's Parish priests and the parish staff to be more available at this time to victims of sexual abuse by priests and to our parishioners, the Archdiocese of Boston supported our need to postpone the Promise for Tomorrow Capital Campaign, which will now be conducted here at Saint Michael's Parish in phase V or VI of the Campaign. The Archdiocese further endorsed the need for the Cardinal's Appeal not to take place at this time but rather to take place here at Saint Michael's Parish this fall. In fact, these postponements were already in discussion before the current media coverage of my bulletin.

In no way were my words or actions ever intended to undermine or question the leadership of the Archdiocese of Boston or our Archbishop, Cardinal Law. I support the Archdiocese of Boston and I readily stand with our Archbishop as we face this crisis together as representatives of the Church.

Copyright © 2004-2006 Archdiocese of Boston; all rights reserved