Cardinal O'Malley Posts Letter for 10th Anniversary of Clergy Abuse Scandal
By Lane Lambert
[with pdf] BRAINTREE — Ten years after the Archdiocese clergy sex abuse scandal became public, Cardinal Sean O'Malley says the church's work to repair the damage from the crimes is far from over. "There will never be a time to presume that the crisis is over or behind us," the cardinal writes in a pastoral letter posted Wednesday. "As a church we must continue to express the depth of sorrow and contrition for how badly we failed those entrusted to our care." His letter and a related statement, "Ten Years Later – Reflections on the Sexual Abuse Crisis" come the same week that the Archdiocese, priest victims and their families will mark the 10th anniversary of the first reporting of sexual abuses in Jnauary 2002. Archdiocese records opened by a court ruling revealed that church leaders had known about predatory priests and covered up their actions for decades. The scandal drove many Catholics from the church. It cost the Archdiocese at least $85 million to settle hundreds of civil lawsuits, and forced former Cardinal Bernard Law to resign in December 2002. Then-Archbishop O'Malley succeeded him in July 2003. In Wednesday's letter, Cardinal O'Malley says he reflects on the crisis and victims "every day" in his prayers. He also says that the Archdiocese will continue to be vigilant in the protection of children with "sweeping and significant changes" the church has made to church programs and practices since 2002. He also praises parishoners and advocates who spoke up for victims in the early days of the crisis, and commends the majority of good priests who kept up their work "in the midst of great turmoil." Contact: llambert@ledger.com
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