By Associated Press, 07/18/02

| Complete coverage |  AG'S REPORT Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly released the results of a 16-month investigation into clergy sex abuse in the Boston archdiocese. Download report [PDF, 1.4 MB] (File requires Adobe Acrobat)  TODAY'S GLOBE A new leader reaches out 3 faces in crowd bound in hopeh At BC, students watch with awe O'Malley's homily reveals frank man Near cathedral, voices of protest 'Good priests' moved to tears Text of Archbishop O'Malley's homily Sandwiches, chips were bill of fare An angry protest, and prayers  GRAPHICS The moment of installation Viewer's guide Ceremony TV coverage  Processional O'Malley's vestments O'Malley's coat of arms Cathedral of the Holy Cross  REALVIDEO | NECN.com | Help with video | O'Malley to be installed today Great expectations of O'Malley Video clips require RealPlayer and Windows 98 or higher.  INTERACTIVE FEATURE An interactive timeline of the developing church crisis, featuring photos and audio.   View timeline  IN-DEPTH Boston's new archbishop Bishop Sean Patrick O'Malley has been chosen to succeed Cardinal Law as leader of the archdiocese. Reaction to O'Malley appointment Accused priests are vindicated Three priests have been exonerated after being suspended from their posts over abuse allegations.  CARDINAL BERNARD LAW Coverage of his resignation Career timeline: Priest to cardinal Changing statements on abuse Coverage of his tenure in Boston Photos: Law through the years Boston.com readers' comments  CONTACT SPOTLIGHT If you have information on child abuse by priests, call (617) 929-3208 Or leave a confidential message at this number (617) 929-7483 The Spotlight Team e-mail address is spotlight@globe.com.

BOSTON -- Cardinal Bernard Law answered questions under oath for the fourth time Thursday in the case of defrocked priest John Geoghan.

Mitchell Garabedian, attorney for 86 plaintiffs in the sexual abuse lawsuit, announced outside the Archdiocese of Boston's chancery that he was finished deposing Law for now and would begin preparing for a July 31 hearing on whether a broken settlement reportedly worth $15 million to $30 million can be enforced.

"It was quite productive," Garabedian said. "We're ready for (the hearing) as far as Cardinal Law is concerned."

The deposition lasted 2.5 hours. Archdiocese spokesman the Rev. Christopher Coyne said the tone of the deposition was "professional" and "not contentious."

Law said that while he supported the settlement, he understood the finance council's ruling, because many more plaintiffs came forward than expected, Coyne said. However, Law said he, "will abide by whatever the justice system requires," Coyne said.

The archdiocese's Finance Council voted against the settlement in March, marking the first time it ever went against Law's recommendations.

Mark Keane, a 33-year-old alleged victim from Merrimack, N.H., said Law argued that the settlement should have been referred to as a "proposed settlement" because it had not been finalized.

Keane also said Law "stumbled over a lot of questions and left the room with attorneys" to discuss some questions in private.