N.Y. Cardinal Egan Calls Abuse an ‘Abomination’

Facing mounting pressure to speak out against child molestation by priests, the head of the New York archdiocese condemned sexual abuse as an “abomination” Tuesday. He said he will send a letter to members of the diocese explaining how it responds to such accusations.

Cardinal Edward M. Egan also said he is confident the Bridgeport, Conn., diocese that he once headed acted appropriately in addressing a series of sexual abuse cases in the 1990s. The statement was his first in response to a Hartford Courant report that said Egan allowed priests accused of sexual abuse to continue working in parishes for many years.

“Sexual abuse of children is an abomination,” Egan said. “It leaves scars on its victims that long endure. My heart goes out to any and all victims and their families.”

The letter, which will discuss “the tragedy and immorality of sexual abuse,” will be distributed to the 2.4 million members of the New York archdiocese, the nation’s third-largest. Spokesman Joseph Zwilling said he did not know when the letter would be distributed.

The statement came after a week in which church leaders faced mounting pressure to change their policies on abuse allegations, and on a day in which details emerged that a New York priest, the Rev. Henry Mills, accused of sexual abuse, was performing ministerial duties at a Manhattan church.

Egan did not comment directly on the case involving Mills.

Throughout the last week, prosecutors urged church leaders to notify authorities of all abuse allegations, and state legislators said they would try to change New York law to require clergy to report abuse allegations involving clerics.

Earlier Tuesday, Manhattan Dist. Atty. Robert Morgenthau said that he supports strengthening the reporting law. But he said church leaders have an immediate obligation to report allegations.

Sealed court records showed that Egan, while heading the Bridgeport diocese, did not notify authorities of abuse allegations and allowed several priests facing allegations to continue working for many years, the Courant reported.

Egan left Bridgeport in 2000 to become head of the New York archdiocese. In his statement, Egan said he would address the matter further in his letter.

The New York archdiocese said last week it had changed its policy and would report allegations under certain conditions. Egan reiterated that stance in his statement.

Future allegations would be forwarded to authorities, the diocese said, if church leaders find probable cause and if the alleged victim consents.

Egan said church officials would encourage anyone with a complaint to notify authorities.