A leading psychiatrist and member of Bernard Cardinal Law's Blue Ribbon Commission on clergy sexual abuse described Paul R. Edwards, the accuser of Monsignor Michael Smith Foster, as a "sociopath and a psychopath" - even though he had never met the man, church files show.

That and other facts emerging from the file on Foster - the only priest exonerated of abuse charges by the Archdiocese of Boston this year - provide the first picture of how the church probes new cases of clergy sexual abuse.

The records indicate church investigator the Rev. Sean M. Connor attempted an exhaustive probe of the allegations against Foster, including interviews with numerous Foster supporters, Edwards' estranged father and Edwards himself.

In Edwards' only face-to-face interview, the former Newton altar boy presented Connor with numerous documents refuting allegations that he lied about his health, background and career.

In a transcript of that Sept. 12 meeting, church investigators wrote:

"The papers say I do not have a spinal cord injury - he produced X-rays.

"They said I wasn't a pilot - he produced his pilot logbook . . .

"They say I wasn't on the U.S. disabled ski team - he produced a certificate . . .

"They say I was never a police officer - he produced certificates. C (the Rev. Sean M. Connor) looked at the certificates and it turns out he was a special officer for the summer on Martha's Vineyard."

But investigators also received a damning assessment of Edwards by Dr. Edwin H. Cassem, a psychiatrist and Jesuit priest and a member of Law's Blue Ribbon Commission.

"Mr. Edwards' history is consistent with his being a sociopath or psychopath," he wrote, calling Edwards a danger to Foster, whom he advised to "wear a kevlar vest and learn to use a gun."

In a subsequent letter to Connor, who questioned the validity of Cassem's assessment, Cassem admitted that he had never met Edwards.

"Your implication that the affidavit is fraudulent angers me," Cassem writes. "I am not a liar. I never claimed to have interviewed Paul Edwards."

He added that he signed the affidavit prepared for him by lawyers and private investigators hired by Foster.

"I will not verify your notes with my signature. . . . You sound like an enemy of Msgr. Foster," Cassem wrote.

Cassem did not return a call seeking comment.

Bill Gately of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests questioned the merit of the affidavit.

"Unlike Dr. Cassem, I've met with Paul Edwards. There's no indication to me that Paul would in any way harm Monsignor Foster or Cardinal Law whatsoever," he said.