By Dennis Tatz
The Patriot Ledger
June 2, 2006
http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2006/06/02/news/news01.txt
HINGHAM - Until his death from a heroin overdose two years ago, 29-year-old Patrick McSorley could never escape the pain of a priest molesting him as a youngster.
Last night, McSorley's fiancee, Kristin Carter of Taunton, told Cardinal Sean O'Malley, priests and others attending a special prayer service at St. Paul's Church that the time to heal was now.
NNIt's time for Catholics to renew and rebuild our faith," Carter, 28, said.
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Cardinal Seán O'Malley and local priests prostrate themselves before the altar to humble themselves before God, as Marc Blanchard leads a litany of repentance last night at St. Paul’s Church in Hingham. Phto by Amelia Kunhardt/The Patriot Ledger |
St. Paul's was the latest stop for Cardinal O'Malley's NNpilgrimage of repentance and hope" in the wake of the clergy sex abuse scandal that devastated the Boston Archdiocese. About 200 people attended the service.
McSorley, of Hyde Park, an alleged victim of the late defrocked pedophile priest John Geoghan, was found dead in a friend's North End apartment in February 2004.
Geoghan, one of two abusive priests who had assignments at St. Paul's, reportedly molested at least a dozen youngsters while he was associate pastor between 1967 and 1974.
Geoghan never went to trial for his Hingham abuses. He was convicted and sent to prison in 2002 for an unrelated case in Woburn. He was murdered in his cell by another inmate a year later.
The other abusive priest at St. Paul's, John Hanlon, is currently serving three life sentences, including one for a 1994 conviction for raping a St. Paul's altar boy at a Scituate cottage in 1980.
Carter said it took years before McSorley was finally able to tell his story about Geoghan sexually abusing him when he was 12.
NNAt the time, we didn't realize the effect the abuse had on him," she said.
Carter said McSorley, the father of their now 7-year-old son, Patrick Michael McSorley, turned to drugs and could never overcome his habit.
Despite the torment, she said McSorley continued to be a loving person to his family and friends.
Later, Cardinal O'Malley, wearing the brown robe of his Capuchin Franciscan friars order, and about 25 priests lay prostrate before the altar to offer repentance for the sins of clergy who had sexually abused young boys and girls.
NNWe know this is a community that has suffered much," Cardinal O'Malley told the gathering. NNWe have attempted to remedy our egregious failures. The abuse warrants a spiritual remedy. We are a people of reconciliation."
While offering a public apology, the cardinal admitted that the archdiocese failed miserably in responding to charges of sexual abuse.
NNWhat we have done and what we have failed to do contributed to this crisis," he said. NNWe want the church as safe as possible for children."
As part of the healing service, McSorley's son carried the holy water that the cardinal used to bless the walls of the church.
Accompanying the cardinal on his recent travels to several churches is the crucifix from the now closed Our Lady of Assumption Church in Bellingham, where children had been molested by priests.
NNWe are going through a wonderful healing process," Elizabeth Connolly of Scituate said, following the service.
An hour before the cardinal arrived, demonstrators were outside the church with signs to show their support for sex abuse victims.
One placard read: NNNo justice. No reform. No healing."
Hingham psychologist Ann Hagan Webb, a member of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, said her group is urging Cardinal O'Malley to support pending legislation to repeal the criminal and civil statute of limitations regarding sexual abuse cases and to publish the names of all priests who have sexually abused children.
NNSaying NI'm sorry,' just isn't enough," she said.
James Sullivan of Duxbury said the archdiocese still has a way to go to convince him that everything is being done to purge and punish pedophile priests.
NNWe are expecting more than has been delivered so we can get the church back to the moral position it should be," Sullivan said. NNWe are not here to protest. We are here to demonstrate. I'm a concerned Catholic. I feel an obligation to speak out where change is needed."
Barbara Thorp, director of the archdiocese's office of pastoral support and outreach, said the prayer services led by the cardinal are helping the healing process for Catholics and victims of sexual abuse.
NNThis is a very important moment for the church to come forward in humility and to ask for forgiveness," Thorp said. NNThere are many (sexual abuse) survivors who have been attending these services. Their wounds are our wounds."
The Novena will end with an 8 p.m. Mass at St. Columbkille in Brighton tomorrow night.
Dennis Tatz may be reached at dtatz@ledger.com .
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