[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 13, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S8205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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                          CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, Rick Santorum owes an immediate apology 
to the tragic and long-suffering victims of sexual abuse and their 
families in Boston, Massachusetts, in Pennsylvania, and around the 
country. His outrageous and offensive comments which he had the 
indecency to repeat yesterday blamed the people of Boston for the 
depraved behavior of sick individuals who stole the innocence of 
children in the most horrible way imaginable.
  Senator Santorum has shown a deep and callous insensitivity to the 
victims and their suffering in an apparent attempt to score political 
points with some of the most extreme members of the fringe rightwing of 
his party. Boston bashing might be in vogue with some Republicans, but 
Rick Santorum's statements are beyond the pale.
  Three years ago, Senator Santorum said:

       While it is no excuse for this scandal, it is no surprise 
     that Boston, a seat of academic, political and cultural 
     liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm.

  When given an opportunity yesterday to apologize, he refused and 
instead restated these outrageous statements. The people of Boston are 
to be blamed for the clergy sexual abuse? That is an irresponsible, 
insensitive, and inexcusable thing to say. Rick Santorum should join 
all Americans in celebrating the accomplishments of the people of 
Boston. Apparently Senator Santorum has never heard of the enormous 
contributions of our universities and industries to our quality of 
life, our economic strength, and our national security.
  Harvard and MIT have produced 98 Nobel laureates whose work has made 
an enormous difference in America's strength. Their graduates 
contribute to industries, Government, their communities, our Nation, 
and throughout the world. In fact, only a quarter of MIT graduates 
remain in New England. Their research keeps our Nation secure.
  The Pentagon and the CIA, the military, the Energy Department, the 
Veterans Administration--all turn to MIT and Harvard for technology and 
strategies to protect our Nation from those who would hurt us, and 
their research in cancer, children's health, housing, community 
development, so many other issues, continues to make an enormous 
difference to the well-being and the health of our children and 
families.
  More than a dozen current U.S. Senators were educated in Boston.
  Senator Frist was trained as a heart surgeon at Harvard Medical 
School. Senator Dole went to Harvard Law School. Senator Alexander went 
to Harvard's School of Government. Surely my memorable colleagues would 
not go to a school that is somehow contributing to the downfall of 
America. No, Mr. President, they went to a worldwide leading 
institution to prepare them for incredible careers of service and 
leadership.
  Senator Santorum's self-righteousness also fails to take into account 
the enormous amount of good will the people of Boston demonstrate for 
the less fortunate. They started the Massachusetts Children's Hunger 
Initiative, working with leaders in 20 low-income communities to end 
hunger among children.
  Boston's Children's Hospital has been ranked first in the Nation in 
the past decade for care and concern of sick children.
  The quality of life for Boston and its families is rated third in 
America. Massachusetts has the lowest divorce rate in the Nation.
  Massachusetts ranks in the top 10 States in the Nation when it comes 
to addressing the needs of at-risk or vulnerable children, including 
our efforts to address low birth weight babies, teen homicides and 
other challenges to our children. Pennsylvania doesn't even rank in the 
top 10.
  Boston gave birth to America's liberty, and the values that sparked 
our revolution continue to inspire Bostonians today--love of freedom, 
dedication to country, and concern for our fellow citizens.
  The men and women of Boston have served honorably in our Armed 
Forces. They fought and died for our country so that their children 
might live in freedom and opportunity.
  The abuse of children is a horrible perversion and a tragic crime, 
and I am proud that the good people of Boston and Massachusetts were 
leaders in coming forward, shedding light, and demanding accountability 
for this devastating violation of children.
  Sadly, the sexual abuse of children is a problem throughout the 
world, and it is not confined in any way to members of the clergy or to 
one town or one city. Every State in the country has reported child 
sexual abuse, including Pennsylvania.
  On behalf of all the victims of abuse and the people of Boston and 
Massachusetts, I ask that he retract his unfounded statements and 
apologize. I think the families of Massachusetts were hurt just as much 
by this terrible tragedy as the families of Pennsylvania. Abuse against 
children is not a liberal or conservative issue. It is a horrific, 
unspeakable tragedy. Sadly, it happens in every State of this great 
Nation--in red States and blue States, in the North and South, in big 
cities and in small. The victims of child sexual abuse have suffered 
enough already, and Senator Santorum should stop making a bad and very 
tragic situation worse.

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