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	Lynch Calls on Bettencourt to Retract Facebook Statement By Garry Rayno New Hampshire Union Leader April 2, 2011 http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Lynch+calls+on+Bettencourt+to+retract+Facebook+statement&articleId=ea8b7493-8568-4fdc-a468-cc7cc33da803 CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch is calling on House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt to retract comments he made about Catholic Bishop John McCormack calling him "a pedophile pimp." "These comments have no place in the public discourse, and the people of New Hampshire have a right to expect a higher level of civility and judgment from their elected officials," Lynch said Saturday. "I would urge the majority leader to retract his comments." Bettencourt, a Salem Republican, posted comments late Thursday night about McCormack after he spoke at a rally earlier that day criticizing the House two-year budget proposal. McCormack is the leader of New Hampshire's 290,000 Catholics. He told a crowd estimated at between 4,000 and 5,000 people that the budget plan Republicans passed neglects society's obligation to care for the poor and vulnerable. Bettencourt Friday stood by his statement although other Republican leaders either disagreed with his statement or said he should have chosen his words more carefully. Diocese of Manchester spokesman Kevin Donovan said Bettencourt's remarks are false and defamatory, meant to distract people from the budget issues. Speaker of the House William O'Brien said he shares Bettencourt's feelings, but said he would have phrased them more gracefully. State Republican Chairman Jack Kimball said he had not spoken with Bettencourt, "but I am disappointed with his words, and I don't share his sentiments." At the State House rally, McCormack said "I am deeply concerned about the budget that the House is in the process of passing because it does not meet our obligation as a state to care for our fellow citizens in need." McCormack once was a key administrator for Cardinal Bernard F. Law in Boston. The Archdiocese of Boston was among the first to be drawn into scandals involving the sexual abuse of Catholic boys by priests. McCormack was Law's top aide and was assigned to investigate sexual abuse complaints and reassigning priests. He was named Bishop of Manchester in 1998.
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