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In deposition, Law says he relied on others' expertise

Cardinal Law arrives at Suffolk Superior Court in Boston on Wednesday.

BOSTON, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Cardinal Bernard Law said in a deposition at Suffolk Superior Court on Wednesday that he viewed sexual molestation as "a psychological pathology" and relied on medical or psychiatric expertise in dealing with claims of sexual abuse by priests.

Law, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, answered questions from attorneys as part of the lawsuit that accuses him of negligence for allowing defrocked priest John Geoghan's transfer from parish to parish, despite allegations of child sexual abuse.

He was asked if in 1984, when he was installed as archbishop of Boston, "You knew, did you not, that it would have been wrong for a priest to have sexually molested boys. Is that correct?"

"Oh, absolutely," he answered.

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Was that something, he was asked, that he would have tried to stop from happening again?

"That's correct," he said.

What practice was in place to deal with this kind of allegation, he was asked?

"I viewed this as a pathology, as a psychological pathology, as an illness," he said. "Obviously, I viewed it as something that had a moral component.

"It was, objectively speaking, a gravely sinful act. And that's something one deals with in one's life, in one's relationship to God.

"But I also viewed this as a pathology, as an illness, and so consequently, I, not being an expert in this pathology, not being a psychiatrist, not being a psychologist ... my modus operandi was to rely upon those whom I considered and would have reason to consider to have an expertise that I lacked in assessing this pathology."

Earlier years

Questions also were asked about when Law was a bishop in Springfield and Cape Girardeau in Missouri from 1973 to 1984. Some reports came to him at that time about priests having inappropriate contact with children, he said, and he described how those were dealt with this way: "As I recall, there was a sending of the person for a psychological evaluation and for treatment."

He testified that there were fewer than five instances of such behavior while he was there and that he didn't actually recall "more than one" instance. He said it wasn't an ordinary thing.

When asked if he had consulted with other bishops, he said he had, "but I did not, as I recall, consult a bishop beyond the diocese as to what to do."

He said the priest he received a report about is "not active," and added that some of the people he consulted with are still active priests.

Law deposed behind closed doors

Superior Court Judge Constance Sweeney ordered the closed-doors deposition on Monday in the case of 86 people who have sued the archdiocese over allegations of sexual abuse by Geoghan. Unofficial, unedited copies of the morning and afternoon depositions were released to CNN.

Geoghan is in prison after receiving a sentence in January of up to 10 years for fondling a young boy. He also faces other child sexual abuse charges.

Authorities say they believe Geoghan was a serial sexual offender over many years, with as many as 200 victims.

Friday, over Law's objections, the archdiocese's finance council decided not to approve a settlement with the 86 plaintiffs. Attorneys for the archdiocese estimated it could cost the church about $30 million, and the council feared the church would not have financial resources to deal with other potential cases.

Monday, Mitchell Garabedian, an attorney for Geoghan's alleged victims, who had negotiated the settlement, told Sweeney that there never was any mention during nearly a year of negotiations that a finance council would need to approve the agreement.

Attorneys for the archdiocese told Sweeney that such approval is required by canon law, but the judge said she wanted to see something from archdiocese attorneys showing which part of canon law allows the council to overrule a cardinal's decision, in this case, the settlement.

Garabedian has said he is exploring suing the church for breach of contract for backing out of the agreement reached in March.

Law said Sunday that the archdiocese faces more than 236 legal claims over sexual abuse by priests.

Wednesday, speaking during the afternoon deposition, Law said the scandal has created an "exceedingly painful, complicated mess."

Another case

In a different case, an ex-Catholic priest accused of sexually abusing a teen-age boy pleaded not guilty Wednesday at his arraignment in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Haverhill District Court Judge Kevin Herlihy set a cash bail of $100,000 for Ronald Paquin, 59, who has been charged with one count of rape and abuse of a child under 16.

According to the complaint against Paquin, there were numerous alleged incidents of abuse in Haverhill, where Paquin was an associate pastor, between January 1990 and Jan. 30, 1992, Essex County District Attorney Kevin Burke has said.

The complaint also alleges that there were incidents between Paquin and his accuser in other states and outside the United States, including Canada. The alleged victim is now in his 20s, Essex County Prosecutor William Fallon said.

Burke has said that his office began its probe of Paquin in March.