[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Talk about nerve.

[happygrl]

How could this man have ever become Cardinal with this lack of insight and compassion ?

First, the church wants to avoid the "worldly" system and deal with this as a sin matter only.

Then, in utilizing the "worldly" system, they permit this kind of language in their legal response.

Has the church lost its mind ?

[Mike Fieschko]

It's unclear what document MacLeish is referring to. If Massachusetts uses the typical sequence, the plaintiff files a complaint and the defendant (archdiocese, Law, whoever) files an answer.

Typically, someone has to assert 'defenses' in their answer to preserve those defenses. If you don't assert them, they might be unavailable.

If (and please remember, I'm saying if), the parents were partially negligent, then it's standard that any award gets reduced.

Juries get asked that all the time. Think of an auto accident were both people run a stop sign at a four-way stop. If you think about it, I'm sure that you'll be able to come up with situations also.

This is not a defense of Cdl Law. From the article, it looks as if this was something the lawyers wrote. I think freepers would agree that lawyers aren't always the most 'sensitive' folks, and boy do they look like jerks here.

As for MacLeish, this is called 'trying your case in the newspapers'.

[Tacis]

Hey, the kid was asking for it! He came to church, church, for God's sake, waiving that thing around. The kid knew it was more than a faggot priest could take. The blame is clearly the kid's. You got to love Law's style on this. Clinton and his White House sewer dwellers must be coaching Law at every turn.

The problem is not paedophilia, the problem is fairy priests, some of whom go after children because they are the easiest targets. Law is protecting fairies, probably, because he knows that if he goes after them, he'll lose half his staff. We got "don't ask, don't tell" in the clergy and the bishops don't want to do anything about it. I like the thought of promoting Law to Rome. It just has the feel of the federal government.

[maryz]

The story on this from the Boston Globe is posted here.

[Nathan Jr.]

No doubt about it now. This Catholic believes the man needs to resign. And none of that "it's not my decision to make, it's up to the Vatican" baloney. All you have to do is just give notice, hang up your robe and walk away.

[Cicero]

I've criticized Cardinal Law, but he can't be faulted on this. When somebody sues the Church for millions, he has to turn it over to the lawyers and let them deal with it as best they may. This is obviously a legal ploy.

What else can he do? The diocese has lost millions that should have gone to pay for hospitals, schools, upkeep of churches, and other good things. His lack of control is partly responsible, but somebody still has to deal with the lawsuits. Abused children deserve some sort of consideration--although it's not clear that money is what they need. But keep in mind that at least some of these cases are probably bogus. There are lawyers on both sides, fighting it out in court or trying to reach favorable settlements, and we all know what that means.

[white trash redneck]

This is outrageous. Is there any way to put the Boston Archdiocese's tax exemption in jeopardy if they persist in these despicable legal tactics?