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Boston Cardinal O'Malley In Ireland Assessing Sex Abuse Response

BOSTON (AP) -- Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley is in Ireland conducting a Vatican-commissioned assessment of the Archdiocese of Dublin's response to sexual abuse.

The cardinal also is helping to preside over a service of repentance that was partly written by abuse victims.

O'Malley has been praised for how he has handled abuse scandals, apologizing, leading liturgical rituals, settling lawsuits and changing policies. He led three dioceses racked by scandal.

In 2006, he led a series of Novena services in nine Boston-area parishes with histories of abuse. And in 2008, O'Malley arranged a meeting between abuse survivors from Boston and Pope Benedict XVI when he presented the pope with a hand-lettered book listing the first names of 1,476 abuse victims.

Still, critics say the Boston Archdiocese has failed to publish a promised list of credibly accused priests.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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