Reaction to O'Malley's Elevation Mixed, TheBostonChannel.com, February 23, 2006

Reaction to O'Malley's Elevation Mixed

TheBostonChannel.com
February 23, 2006

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/7338356/detail.html

BOSTON -- Archbishop Sean O'Malley, who came to Boston to help heal the community in the wake of the clergy sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, was elevated to cardinal on Wednesday by Pope Benedict XVI.

NewsCenter 5's Amalia Barreda reported that O'Malley was among 15 new cardinals named by the pope. The archbishop will be elevated during a ceremony on March 24 at the Vatican, but not everyone is congratulating the cardinal-to-be.

O'Malley was traveling out of state on Wednesday for a previously scheduled appointment, but he spoke about the honor during a phone interview.

Boston Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley

"The reaction that I've seen from the people and our priests is one of enthusiasm and joy. I think it has been good news for the archdiocese. It's one of the reasons that gave me enough courage to accept this challenge, because I believe that it is good for the church of Boston," O'Malley said.

The reaction has not been all-positive. Attorney Mitchell Garabedian represented 550 clergy sex abuse victims who settled with the church for $85 million.

"Archbishop O'Malley has not conducted the workshops to help victims. Many victims have had a problem in obtaining costs of counseling. They want healing Masses, but they haven't received any. It's as though the clergy sexual abuse crisis never existed. I currently represent 55 victims, who have come forward since the last settlement. They are wondering where Archbishop O'Malley is," Garabedian said.

"I know that there is so much more that needs to be done. We will continue to try and work for healing among the survivors and the whole diocese," O'Malley said.