DRMIZER
12-15-2003, 11:36 AM
by Denise Lavoie
When Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley helped negotiate a record-breaking $85 million settlement for clergy sex abuse victims, the agreement was heralded as an important step toward healing a shattered church.
With the checks due to go out to victims later this month, O'Malley has been forced to take some extraordinary steps to come up with the money. Among them: the sale of the archbishop's mansion and the mortgaging of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
While the archdiocese fiercely resisted such moves under his predecessor, Cardinal Bernard Law, the installation of O'Malley in July signaled a new era and a new way of thinking in the church.
Where previously the archbishop's mansion had been seen as a shining example of the church's standing and power, it was now seen an embarrassing symbol of the arrogance of a church that protected pedophile priests over children.
Attorney Jeffrey Newman, whose firm represents about half of the more than 500 victims covered by the $85 million settlement, recalls negotiating with church lawyers 18 months ago, when they adamantly refused to sell or mortgage church property to help pay for any agreement.
''Their response was, 'We're not going to do that ... we're going to fight it out,''' said Newman. ''My sense was this was simply sacrosanct, just something they wouldn't entertain, and they got angry when we suggested it. The property had a long tradition here, but it harkened back to an old regime that believed things like (clergy sex abuse) should be kept quiet and their reputation should be protected at all costs.''
Church officials are hoping the Italian Renaissance-style mansion home to the previous four archbishops of Boston and 28 surrounding acres will sell for a significant amount. It has been valued at anywhere from $14 million to $100 million.
The Rev. Christopher Coyne, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said it expects to raise the settlement money through the property sale and from insurance carriers.
Because the archdiocese needs to turn over the settlement money by Dec. 22, it is using $75 million in loans from two major banks, as well as a $15 million loan from a clergy retirement fund.
Once the sale of the property is complete and the insurance money is collected, that money will be used to pay off the loans. To secure the loans, the church has mortgaged the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in South Boston as well as St. John's Seminary.
The moves have been praised by victims and priests.
''I think getting rid of the archbishop's house is not only symbolic, but a welcome thing to do,'' said the Rev. Robert Bullock, president of the Boston Priests Forum. ''If there is any inconvenience on the part of the church in having to mortgage and sell property, it is nothing compared to what is necessary to do for victims.''
David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said O'Malley had no choice but to find a way to come up with the money to pay for the settlement.
''He's a smart man who understands that the parishioners and the victims cannot take one more betrayal or excuse or technicality or rationalization,'' said Clohessy. ''Time and time again, we've seen bishops who say, 'I'd love to do what's right, but...'''
O'Malley disclosed how the money would be raised as the church sought to reassure parishioners that the archdiocese wouldn't dip into collection money.
''He felt saddened that a property that has been so much a part of the history of the city of Boston ... will now be sold to settle the claims, but it's what the archdiocese had to do,'' Coyne said.
Some lay Catholics also have been saddened by the announcement of the sale.
Former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn, who later served as ambassador to the Vatican, said many first- and second-generation immigrants showed their devotion to the Catholic church through their weekly donations. They saw the archbishop's mansion and surrounding property as a revered symbol of their emerging church, he said.
''We don't fault the archbishop for needing, for wanting to settle these cases. The healing must begin with the justice of resolving these cases we understand that,'' Flynn said. ''But it's not just dollars and cents here it's tradition and it's sentimentality. We see a part of our values being taken away from us.''
Even after the settlement is paid out later this month, the archdiocese faces a tough year ahead.
O'Malley plans to meet with priests Tuesday to discuss a plan to close a significant number of churches. The archdiocese says the closings are part of a restructuring being driven by declining church attendance and a shortage of priests, both trends that began before the scandal exploded nearly two years ago.
Coyne said O'Malley will use the same criteria that have been used for the past two decades in deciding which churches to close, including attendance figures and the ''sacramental index,'' or the number of baptisms, weddings and funerals performed at each church. The church will also consider the physical condition of the church buildings, how much money it costs to maintain them, and whether there is another church located nearby that can absorb parishioners.
For many Catholics, the church closings are another disappointment in what has been a disastrous two years.
''The physical home of the church for them is their local parish, so when that closes down, they feel a loss,'' said Stephen Pope, a theology professor at Boston College.
''It's saying to them that the neighborhood has really changed and the place that was all caught up in their identity has shifted. It's going to be hard for people.''
When Boston Archbishop Sean O'Malley helped negotiate a record-breaking $85 million settlement for clergy sex abuse victims, the agreement was heralded as an important step toward healing a shattered church.
With the checks due to go out to victims later this month, O'Malley has been forced to take some extraordinary steps to come up with the money. Among them: the sale of the archbishop's mansion and the mortgaging of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
While the archdiocese fiercely resisted such moves under his predecessor, Cardinal Bernard Law, the installation of O'Malley in July signaled a new era and a new way of thinking in the church.
Where previously the archbishop's mansion had been seen as a shining example of the church's standing and power, it was now seen an embarrassing symbol of the arrogance of a church that protected pedophile priests over children.
Attorney Jeffrey Newman, whose firm represents about half of the more than 500 victims covered by the $85 million settlement, recalls negotiating with church lawyers 18 months ago, when they adamantly refused to sell or mortgage church property to help pay for any agreement.
''Their response was, 'We're not going to do that ... we're going to fight it out,''' said Newman. ''My sense was this was simply sacrosanct, just something they wouldn't entertain, and they got angry when we suggested it. The property had a long tradition here, but it harkened back to an old regime that believed things like (clergy sex abuse) should be kept quiet and their reputation should be protected at all costs.''
Church officials are hoping the Italian Renaissance-style mansion home to the previous four archbishops of Boston and 28 surrounding acres will sell for a significant amount. It has been valued at anywhere from $14 million to $100 million.
The Rev. Christopher Coyne, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said it expects to raise the settlement money through the property sale and from insurance carriers.
Because the archdiocese needs to turn over the settlement money by Dec. 22, it is using $75 million in loans from two major banks, as well as a $15 million loan from a clergy retirement fund.
Once the sale of the property is complete and the insurance money is collected, that money will be used to pay off the loans. To secure the loans, the church has mortgaged the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in South Boston as well as St. John's Seminary.
The moves have been praised by victims and priests.
''I think getting rid of the archbishop's house is not only symbolic, but a welcome thing to do,'' said the Rev. Robert Bullock, president of the Boston Priests Forum. ''If there is any inconvenience on the part of the church in having to mortgage and sell property, it is nothing compared to what is necessary to do for victims.''
David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said O'Malley had no choice but to find a way to come up with the money to pay for the settlement.
''He's a smart man who understands that the parishioners and the victims cannot take one more betrayal or excuse or technicality or rationalization,'' said Clohessy. ''Time and time again, we've seen bishops who say, 'I'd love to do what's right, but...'''
O'Malley disclosed how the money would be raised as the church sought to reassure parishioners that the archdiocese wouldn't dip into collection money.
''He felt saddened that a property that has been so much a part of the history of the city of Boston ... will now be sold to settle the claims, but it's what the archdiocese had to do,'' Coyne said.
Some lay Catholics also have been saddened by the announcement of the sale.
Former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn, who later served as ambassador to the Vatican, said many first- and second-generation immigrants showed their devotion to the Catholic church through their weekly donations. They saw the archbishop's mansion and surrounding property as a revered symbol of their emerging church, he said.
''We don't fault the archbishop for needing, for wanting to settle these cases. The healing must begin with the justice of resolving these cases we understand that,'' Flynn said. ''But it's not just dollars and cents here it's tradition and it's sentimentality. We see a part of our values being taken away from us.''
Even after the settlement is paid out later this month, the archdiocese faces a tough year ahead.
O'Malley plans to meet with priests Tuesday to discuss a plan to close a significant number of churches. The archdiocese says the closings are part of a restructuring being driven by declining church attendance and a shortage of priests, both trends that began before the scandal exploded nearly two years ago.
Coyne said O'Malley will use the same criteria that have been used for the past two decades in deciding which churches to close, including attendance figures and the ''sacramental index,'' or the number of baptisms, weddings and funerals performed at each church. The church will also consider the physical condition of the church buildings, how much money it costs to maintain them, and whether there is another church located nearby that can absorb parishioners.
For many Catholics, the church closings are another disappointment in what has been a disastrous two years.
''The physical home of the church for them is their local parish, so when that closes down, they feel a loss,'' said Stephen Pope, a theology professor at Boston College.
''It's saying to them that the neighborhood has really changed and the place that was all caught up in their identity has shifted. It's going to be hard for people.''