Retired Cardinal Criticized for Abuse Comments

By John Christoffersen
Associated Press
February 7, 2012

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hf6dfBCZbLqjlmoBjcN_A4w_tnrw?docId=730bc25c1f2c440ba9810f90a5971930

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Retired New York Cardinal Edward Egan is facing criticism from representatives of clergy sexual abuse victims for a recent interview in which he said he regretted apologizing for the priest abuse scandal in 2002 when he was bishop of Bridgeport.

In the interview with Connecticut Magazine, Egan says "I don't think we did anything wrong" in handling abuse cases. He says he was not obligated to report abuse claims and maintained he inherited the cases from his predecessor and did not have any cases on his watch.

Attorneys who represented numerous abuse victims say Egan's apology withdrawal is "just another slap in the face" to victims. They say clergy have been required to report abuse claims to authorities since the early 1970s.