New York Cardinal questioned in sex abuse cases

(AP) — New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan has been formally questioned about clergy sex abuse in his former Archdiocese of Milwaukee, just days ahead of his departure for Rome and the conclave that will elect the next pope.

Dolan, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, has been mentioned on some Vatican analysts' lists of cardinals who could be elected in the upcoming conclave, though he is considered a long shot.

He is one of two US cardinals to be deposed this week in cases related to the abuse scandal, which erupted in 2002 in Boston, then spread through the United States to Europe and beyond.

Dolan, who led Milwaukee's Roman Catholics from 2002 to 2009, answered questions Wednesday about his decision to publicise names of clergy members who had been accused of molesting children in cases that are mostly decades old, church attorney Frank LoCoco said.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, an independent group of abuse victims and their supporters, said it would press to make the transcript of Dolan's testimony public.

The deposition is part of a bankruptcy case filed in 2011 by Dolan's Wisconsin successor, Archbishop Jerome Listecki, over abuse claims by nearly 500 people.

Many Milwaukee church officials, including another former archbishop, Rembert Weakland, have been deposed.

Archdiocese of New York spokesman Joseph Zwilling said Dolan had long awaited the chance to answer the attorneys' questions.

A few weeks ago, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles under court order released thousands of pages from the confidential personnel files of more than 120 accused clergy members.
  
Like our new Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/gleanerjamaica

Follow us on Twitter
http://twitter.com/JamaicaGleaner