October 31, 2002 - Statement of His Eminence Bernard Cardinal Law on
the story in the Boston Herald
Today, it was alleged in a front-page story in the Boston Herald that
during my tenure as Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau,
a then twelve-year old child approached me, not once, but twice and told
me that he was being molested by a priest. This is not true. It is stated
further in the article that this allegation by the now 31-year-old contradicts
the sworn testimony I gave during depositions in the Paul Shanley case.
I stand by my testimony made under oath during that deposition.
Furthermore, never during my time as Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
or at any other time in my life, have I been approached by a child in
a parish with an allegation of sexual abuse by a priest or anyone else.
I am perplexed as to how almost twenty years later, the alleged victim
came to believe that these incidents took place. Nevertheless, I pray
for him and for all people who are suffering because of the scandal of
child sexual abuse by clergy.
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