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Law expects talk of cases in Rome visit

By Stephen Kurkjian, Globe Staff, 2/02/2002

Cardinal Bernard Law said last night that he is leaving today for a previously scheduled weeklong trip to the Vatican, where, he said, the subject of sexual abuse cases involving priests in the Boston archdiocese would probably be raised, but only "in conversation."

Law, after officiating at a wake Mass in Watertown, said that he would be attending meetings of two groups of high-level Catholic bishops while in the Vatican -- the Congregation of Brotherhood and the Congregation of Education -- but that he did not anticipate discussing the cases at all with Pope John Paul II.

Asked if the cases involving defrocked priest John J. Geoghan and other clergy members would be discussed at the meetings, Law said, "I don't anticipate that. I would imagine it would come up in conversation -- thanks to the Globe."

The Globe Spotlight Team has reported in recent weeks that the archdiocese has settled sexual abuse cases with victims against dozens of priests during the past decade.

Donna M. Morrissey, spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said Law would stay in touch on a daily basis with other top church officials in Boston during his absence. Law will return Friday or Saturday.

This story ran on page B6 of the Boston Globe on 2/02/2002.
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