Healing time for abuse victims

The Pope accepted Cardinal Law's resignation on Friday

By Emma Simpson BBC Correspondent in Boston

The Archbisop of Boston, Cardinal Bernard Law resigned on Chris Fulchino's 26th birthday.

Fighting back the tears, Chris spoke about how he was abused by his priest in the Boston archdiocese when he was 12 and gave his reaction to Friday's resignation.

"It's the start of healing - to heal myself and all the other people. Every day gets easier for you and I'm glad that the Cardinal did resign. I'm glad that this day has finally come."

Many victims are pushing on with their lawsuits

His attacker Father John Geoghan is now a convicted paedophile. He's believed to have attacked more than 130 children over the last three decades.

It was this case which engulfed the church in crisis after it emerged that Cardinal Law and other senior clergy had moved Geoghan from parish to parish despite knowing about his behaviour.

Phil Saviano was also abused as a young boy by his parish priest. He said Cardinal Law's resignation was long overdue.

"What this means to me is that finally the long saga of priests molesting children - at least here in the Boston archdiocese - is coming to an end."

Domino effect

But there are still more than 400 lawsuits to settle in this archdiocese alone.

"The question is where do we go from here," says Eric MacLeish, an attorney representing many of the alleged victims.

"There has to be a cleansing. The people that got us into this mess cannot possibly get us out."

Cardinal Law might not be the only senior clergyman to resign

It's clear that Cardinal Law's departure hasn't brought an end to this crisis - in fact the Vatican must now be fearful of a domino effect.

Phil Saviano believes other heads will have to roll.

"It's important to realise that this is just one Cardinal in one city and we've learned in the last year that there are abuse cases all across the country.

"Two-thirds of the bishops have participated in covering up crimes within their own diocese so it's fair to say that this is the beginning.

"There will be other bishops or cardinals who may have to resign as well."