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Catholics begin new phase of Law protest
By Jennifer Peter, Associated Press, 09/22/02
BOSTON -- Parishioners at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Sunday were confronted with dozens of pictures of young children allegedly abused by priests, rather than protesters' usual angry shouts. About 65 picketers, lined up in silence, backs to the cathedral, to launch a new, more peaceful phase of their campaign to drive Cardinal Bernard Law from his post. It was the largest protest at the cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Boston, in months. Planned as a day to renew their protest following a summer lull, Sunday's silent observance was intended to address concerns that the weekly demonstrations had become too confrontational, according to organizer Rick Webb, of Wellesley. "Some of the people don't like the bullhorns," Webb said. "We're trying to accommodate everyone." Despite the protest's more peaceful nature, the anti-Law rhetoric was still harsh. "The festering sore which continues to infect and divide us will not begin to heal until the symbol and man ultimately responsible for these transgressions is removed," Ann Hagan Webb said in a short speech before the picketers silently circled the cathedral. "That he was fully aware of the rape and molestation of children by priests is no longer in doubt." Pins worn by several of the protesters had a picture of Law with the phrase "Let Us Prey." "I don't think Cardinal Law gets it," said Anne Fahey, 58, of Newton. "I feel an obligation to speak out." Law did not preside at Sunday's Mass because he was in Rome attending the funeral of Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, according to a archdiocese spokeswoman Donna Morrissey. The number of people protesting on the sidewalk outnumbered the roughly 50 people worshipping inside the cathedral, which accommodates 2,000. Picketers have become a weekly sight outside of the cathedral since January, when published reports revealed that the archdiocese had transferred priests accused of child abuse from parish to parish. The Vatican is currently evaluating the U.S. bishops' strategy to eradicate sex abuse among clergy, a policy expected to raise objections at the Holy See. The Vatican press office on Sunday said it would not comment about a report by the National Catholic Reporter, a liberal, U.S.-based publication, that the Vatican would not grant legal approval to the guidelines, adopted in June at a Dallas meeting of U.S. bishops. The protests at the cathedral have often included angry chants through a bullhorn, with some participants occasionally trying to get arrested. Because of the potential for disruption, several police officers patrol outside the cathedral, where Law generally presides. During the summer, when Law was present for few services, participation in the protests dwindled. On Sunday, the bullhorn was put aside at 10:30 a.m., a half hour before the service began, and the picketers began lining up silently in front of the church with several signs that said "Cardinal Law must go." The word "cardinal" was crossed out on each sign. They also held pictures of victims, some identified and some not, usually from decades ago. On Sunday, an attorney for a support group of clergy abuse victims pledged to fight a subpoena by the Diocese of Worcester for victims' names and correspondence. Diocese lawyers subpoenaed the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, last week while defending the diocese in a lawsuit. Five women allege in the lawsuit that the diocese failed to protect them from the Rev. Robert E. Kelley, who was convicted of rape and has admitted to molesting 50 to 100 girls while at St. Cecilia's in Leominster two decades ago. The diocese is asking SNAP for information about the plaintiffs, including correspondence and dates they participated in support group events, and names of "all persons" claiming they were abused by Kelley. "We think this was deliberately designed to intimidate and harass this group because of their role of en encouraging people to speak out," said Wendy Murphy, an attorney for the group. "We don't intend to comply. We intend to fight this, and we will fight as hard as we can, and for as long as we need to." Murphy said she will file a motion this week to quash the subpoena. James G. Reardon, an attorney for the Worcester Diocese, said the diocese was not trying to put pressure on SNAP and its membership. "There is no intention to harass, or intimidate them in any way," he said. |
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