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Let's give credit where credit is due: Walter V. Robinson's Handiwork
Number of times the Globe reported that Edwards had "lied" about his role in the movie, Jaws = 4 Number of times Globe reporters mentioned that Edwards was 7 years old when he reportedly said this = 0 Number of times the Globe reported that Edwards could not have visited Foster's bedroom = 3 Number of times the Globe acknowledged that its previous reports on this issue were false = 0 Number of times Globe articles quote Foster's supporters, but describe these people as Edwards' "friends, " "former friends," or "acquaintances" = 8 + Number of Globe articles questioning Edwards' credibility = 11 Number of Globe articles containing evidence that Edwards actually lied about anything = 0 Number of Globe articles on Foster's response to his "ordeal" = 6 Number of lawyers on Foster's legal team = 4 Name of Foster's PR Firm = Bishoff-Solomon |
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After the Globe reported that Edwards had a history of fabricating stories, the lawsuit was dropped and Foster returned to work. But in September church officials placed him on leave for a second time after Edwards gave the archdiocese "additional information" that has not been made public. |
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In August, Paul Edwards sued Foster, alleging the priest molested him while he was an altar boy at Newton's Sacred Heart Parish. Those charges crumbled after The Boston Globe interviewed several of Edwards' acquaintances, who said he had a history of making up stories, and pointed to factual errors in his accounts. Edwards' lawyer quit the case and the suit was dismissed in early September. Foster, who proclaimed his innocence from the start, was soon reinstated and received a phone call from Cardinal Bernard Law welcoming him back. |
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In August, Paul Edwards sued Foster, alleging the priest molested him while he was an altar boy at Newton's Sacred Heart Parish. Those charges crumbled after The Boston Globe interviewed several of Edwards' acquaintances, who said he had a history of making up stories, and pointed to factual errors in his accounts. Edwards' lawyer quit the case and the suit was dismissed in early September. |
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In August, Paul Edwards sued Foster, alleging the priest molested him while he was an altar boy at a Newton parish. Those accusations crumbled after The Boston Globe interviewed several of Edwards' acquaintances, who said he had a history of making up stories and pointed to factual errors in his accounts. The lawsuit was dismissed in early September. - Sacramento Bee, 10/30/02 |
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BOSTON - Few believe he is guilty, yet Msgr. Michael Smith Foster has been on administrative leave from the Archdiocese of Boston for more than a month. His two suspensions are the result of sexual-abuse allegations so evidently baseless that the civil courts have dismissed them - with prejudice, meaning they can't be filed again - and the Boston Globe has run detailed exposés portraying the priest's accuser as a pathological liar. -- National Catholic Register, Oct. 6-12, 2002 |
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Law had welcomed back Foster, the vicar general and highest-ranking priest in the archdiocese to be accused of sexual abuse, after Edwards's credibility was questioned. Acquaintances said Edwards, who alleged that Foster molested him from 1980 to 1985, had a history of making up stories. The Globe reported several inconsistencies in his abuse allegations, and Edwards's lawyer withdrew from the case shortly after the publication of the Globe report. - Boston Globe, 9/16/02 |
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Edwards' credibility was questioned after acquaintances told The Boston Globe he had a long history of making up stories and pointed to factual errors in his accounts. Edwards' attorney withdrew from the case shortly after the report. |
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Yesterday's strange turn for Foster was the latest incident in several weeks to strain his relationship with his own archdiocese. The charges became public in mid-August. Foster was asked to take leave before Connor's office made any inquiries about the veracity of the charges. Less than a week later, the Globe reported that childhood friends of Edwards had evidence to refute the charges, and they raised instances in which they said Edwards had made other false claims, including an assertion that he had played a role in the 1975 hit movie ''Jaws.'' After that, Edwards's lawyer, Eric J. Parker, investigated his client's claims and then asked to withdraw from the case. --Boston Globe, 9/15/2002 |
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Edwards alleged Foster molested him
numerous times between 1980 and 1985 while Foster was at a Newton parish.
But Edwards' credibility was cast in serious doubt after the Boston Globe
interviewed several acquaintances of Edwards who said he had a long
history of making up stories and pointed to several factual errors in his
accounts. |
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For Foster, the last three weeks have been a nightmare. Edwards, who has a long history of inventing stories, according to many of his childhood friends, went public with his lawsuit on Friday, August 16. Six days later, the Globe report raised serious doubts about the charges against both priests. The following week, Edwards's own attorney, Eric J. Parker, sought court permission to abandon the case after reexamining his client's credibility, and the judge in the case questioned the credibility of the accusations. On Tuesday, Edwards formally withdrew his lawsuit, prompting the Suffolk district attorney's office to launch a criminal inquiry. -- Boston Globe, 9/7/02 |
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For more Globe reports, see The saga of Monsignor Michael Smith Foster - Spotlight Series |
10/31/2002