PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer
"I never said people shouldn't read the grand jury report," the cardinal says. He warns it is not suitable for children.
By David O'Reilly
Inquirer Staff Writer
Cardinal Justin Rigali said yesterday that anyone wanting to read the explosive grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia should "make their own decision," but cautioned that parts are not suitable for youngsters.
"I never said people shouldn't read the grand jury report," Rigali said in a brief telephone interview.
A front-page headline in Friday's Inquirer that read "Don't Read Report, Rigali Says" was a "great blow to me," and the story incorrectly summarized his views, he said.
The story was based on a Thursday interview with Rigali, one day after Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham released a scathing grand jury report accusing two former archbishops of concealing the crimes of dozens of its priests.
During Thursday's interview, an Inquirer reporter asked the cardinal: "Do you think parishioners ought to read it? Would it be of any value for the people to be reading this?"
Rigali replied:
"KYW radio mentioned yesterday that it's very graphic in its description.
"We think that the report gives a slanted view. As I mentioned, it would have been so useful if what the archdiocese has done in order to face the future, the efforts of the archdiocese in regard to the education of teachers and in regard to the education of children, all of that could have been explained. What a contribution it could have been.