PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Daily News
By KITTY CAPARELLA
caparek@phillynews.com
THE ARCHDIOCESE OF Philadelphia yesterday apologized to victims of sex abuse, then blasted a scathing 418-page grand jury report on pedophile Catholic priests.
Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, expressed "deep regrets and sincere apologies" to young victims who were "violated" and "humiliated."
"Horrible acts of abuse must not be tolerated," he added.
But his attorney, William Sasso, called the report "incredibly biased and anti-Catholic."
Rigali, who took over the archdiocese in 2003, said the grand jury, empaneled 40 months ago, was supposed to investigate other denominations and organizations, but "there is not a word about anyone else."
"Why just the Catholic Church when everyone knows it's a societal problem?" asked the cardinal.