10 Years Later and Still Healing

NECN
January 6, 2012

www.necn.com/01/06/12/10-years-later-and-still-healing/landing_newengland.html?blockID=626286&feedID=4206

[with video]

(NECN: Scot Yount, Boston) - 10 years on. A decade has passed since the headlines blared that sexual abuse of children was rampant inside the Boston Archdiocese.

Now a conference in Boston this weekend for abuse survivors and specialists who say they will celebrate the 10th anniversary of confronting the crimes against children. Panelists say that the Boston Archdiocese is apologizing for the past but doing nothing about the present or future.

"The worst kind of optimism to believe that no sexual abuse is taking place here now. One only need look at Penn State and Syracuse," said Carmen Durso.

Cardinal Bernard Law resigned in the wake of the scandal and Bishop Sean O'Malley took over, and would also become a Cardinal.

"The church has tried to face the problem and to recognize the errors of the past," said Cardinal O'Malley in an interview taped several weeks ago.

Cardinal O'Malley released two letters earlier in the week addressing the crisis even thanking the media for keeping up the pressure, but panelists are unimpressed.

"The Cardinal has to address his letters substantively, they are polished statements that are basically meaningless, except they are insulting to victims," said Attorney Mitchell Garabedian who has represented hundreds of victims in cases of sexual abuse against the church.

Robert Costello, who says he was abused by a priest in West Roxbury as a child says the Cardinal has ignored the facts.

"Cardinal O'Malley, he is worse than Romney the way he flip flops around," said Robert Costello, a victim who says he suffered abuse in a church in West Roxbury.

Meantime, victims and their supporters are upset about what they say is threatening hate mail from the Catholic League. Panelists won't name names but a news release on the League's site says Boston Victims Bask in Misery.

"At the same time we have another arm of the Catholic Church which is criticizing survivors for taking part," said Durso.