Priest Calls Alleged Abuse Victims 'Cowards'
LOWELL (CBS/AP) - Cardinal Sean O'Malley has apologized to parishioners at a Lowell Catholic church after a priest called several men "cowards" for accusing the church's former pastor of abuse.
Bishop Peter Uglietto read a letter from O'Malley to parishioners at Holy Trinity Church Sunday.
The letter was in response Monsignor Stanislaw Kempa who on Dec. 11 took to the pulpit to lash out at three former altar boys, now in their 30s, who alleged abuse at the hands of the Rev. Czeslaw Szymanski in the 1980s.
Szymanski, who was never charged, has since died.
O'Malley said using the pulpit as a "platform for harmful words" was inappropriate.
Archdiocese spokesman Terry Donilon talks with WBZ Radio producer Jon MacLean.
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Donlan says Kempa has taken responsibility.
Attorney Carmine Durso represents the three victims.
He spoke with WBZ Radio's Kim Tunnicliffe.
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