The following is the statement of Cardinal Bernard Law regarding an editorial appearing in the March 14 edition of The Pilot, the weekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston:

An editorial in the March 14 issue of The Pilot, the weekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, has unfortunately created confusion. While it is accurate to report that questions concerning the discipline of clerical celibacy were raised at the Convocation, it is not the editorial position of The Pilot that clerical celibacy should be reviewed by the Church with the purpose of a change in discipline.

Clearly, on this and other issues there is a great deal of misunderstanding both within, and even more, outside the Church. The Pilot, as it has stated, will attempt to assist in conveying a better understanding of the Church's faith and discipline in subsequent issues.

The problem of sexual abuse of minors by clergy is being dealt with in its own terms. The focus and commitment of the Archdiocese is to ensure the protection of children. The March 14 issue of The Pilot has provided an informative update of the Archdiocese's ongoing response. The Convocation was one element in that response.

It is important to emphasize, however, that The Pilot does not question the discipline of clerical celibacy. The full context of the editorial in question makes that abundantly clear. It is one thing to report the questions of others, it is quite another thing to make those questions one's own.