Cardinal Law's New Job

New York Times ^ | June 4, 2004 | (Rev.) CHARLES E. BOUCHARD

[tvn]

To the Editor New York Times:

When I read about Cardinal Bernard F. Law's appointment as archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or give up my collar (news article, May 28).

There are priests who are guilty of a single incident of misconduct 20 or more years ago. As a result, they have been permanently stripped of their priestly faculties; they cannot wear a collar or present themselves as priests. Having no other means of support, they are allowed to live in their communities and contribute what they can by answering phones and stuffing envelopes.

Bernard Law, on the other hand, was archbishop of Boston when hundreds of allegations of abuse were made. He resigned reluctantly. He is now honored with a prestigious appointment. This is a slap in the face not only to victims of abuse but also to all Catholics, who have suffered the humiliation of this scandal.

Will this outrageous act finally motivate us to demand accountability from Roman officials and to confront the obvious disdain with which they view the American church?

(Rev.) CHARLES E. BOUCHARD St. Louis, May 28, 2004 The writer is president of the Aquinas Institute of Theology.

[tvn]

This letter focuses on yet one more example of a Church management totally out of touch with its priests, religious and laity, as well as the world at large. Conduct such as that of Cardinal Law should be rightly condemned not rewarded. The time has come for the Church to reset its moral compass and adopt true reforms allowing it to reach out to all peoples. For example, the persons residing in the Cardinal's new palatial residence in Rome and receiving his $14,000 per month stipend should be the unfortunate victims of attacks by the clergy.

[billorites]

So where's the Pope get off giving George Bush sh** today about "the evils of Abu Ghraib," huh?

[thoughtomator]

To say nothing of innocent priests sold down the river by the good Cardinal, so he could cover his own butt.

[omega4412]

The Pope should have excommunicated the priests involved, and excommunicated the bishops who shifted priest molesters around and Cardinal Law for failure in their duty of oversight. And ordered full disclosure to the civil authorities.

[hummingbird]

Giving Law these desserts for his behavior is way too confusing for me. I don't "get" this at all.

[hummingbird]

So where's the Pope get off giving George Bush sh** today about "the evils of Abu Ghraib," huh?

Hi, b...haven't read the text(s), but I sincerely hope that whatever the Pope may have said about "the evils of Abu Ghraib" pale in comparison to what was going on in Iraq before the Coalition arrived. I know a "just war" when I see one and I would think, with his background, Pope JP II would also. If you come across text of the pope or of President Bush, please ping me. I heard on the radio that Mr. Bush was having difficulty understanding the pope because of the speech problems he has.

[Mears]

I "get" it,and sadly I've always gotten it.

It's the old boys' network taking care of it's own. The Pope is a CEO and they ALWAYS take care of eachother and their minions.

My parish is losing it's church and property,in spite of high attendance,because of what went on here in Boston.The property has been assessed at $11,000,000.

Thanks for nothing,Cardinal Law.

[NHResident]

I am convinced that the problem in the Vatican is that of an out of control bureacracy with no strong direction from the top. With all his health problems and obvious tenuous link to what is going on around him, the Pope cannot exerting any effective leadership or control. It is a shame but I don't see any hope for significant leadership (let alone moral judgement or leadership) until we get a new Pope (and maybe not even then.) If I recall correctly, one of the predictions from Fatima was that the Church would suffer from corrupt, immoral leadership at its top (I am paraphrasing). We certainly have had that in spades in the American Catholic church, and we certainly have hints at it in the people surrounding the Pope.

THe only saving thought is that the Church consists of its legitimate believers who defend its moral teachings and not just the clergy. We may go through a really, rough time (think of the Italian papacy in the early middle ages) but the Church will triumph.

[hummingbird]

I'm so sorry Mears; I've been reading about the churches being shut down. When will this turn around?! Its not rocket science...it is aggravating and then some.

[billorites]

"Hi, b...haven't read the text(s), but I sincerely hope that whatever the Pope may have said about "the evils of Abu Ghraib" pale in comparison to what was going on in Iraq before"

Well, you motivated me to read what the Pope actually said instead of what has been reported.

Shazaam! It is very different from what has been reported.

Actual statements of Bush and the Pope posted Here.

[hummingbird]

Thanks...I really want to read these! (nice tagline!)

[etcetera]

Bernard Law would feel right at home in the FBI.

[kcvl]

My thoughts exactly. Only I got a speech about being anti-Catholic and a bigot for saying it.

[Antoninus]

Don't be stupid. Cardinal Law has gone from being a prince of the Church who was at one time thought to be a possible papal candidate, to a disgraced prelate called to Rome. This is not a reward.

Furthermore, to his credit, Law at least had the decency to resign. Bishops with much more baggage and accusations against them than he (Mahoney and Hubbard for example) who also have local political leaders in their back-pockets will never turn over their power.

And don't be so hasty to pile on the Church along with every leftist on the planet. If the power of the Catholic Church is destroyed, it will leave all other smaller Christian denominations that much more vulnerable.

[xm177e2]

There are priests who are guilty of a single incident of misconduct 20 or more years ago. As a result, they have been permanently stripped of their priestly faculties; they cannot wear a collar or present themselves as priests. Having no other means of support, they are allowed to live in their communities and contribute what they can by answering phones and stuffing envelopes.

Oh good grief. Now even child-molesting priests are "victims." BARF.

[pepsionice]

A real pope...would have recalled the priests involved in the entire mess...and simply defrocked them on the doorstep of the Vatican...in full view of the public. For any member of the church to condemn GW...for the Iraq business...and not stand to admit what is going on in the church...shows the stupidity of the church "officers". If the pope won't do anything to fix the problem, its time for members to openly refuse to utilize the church. Let the doors close.

[ampat]

In my opinion , the catholic church is just about at the bottom of its slide. Individual catholics can fend for themselves now. They would do much better to practice in private,than the look to the vatican for anything.

[ampat]

In my opinion , the catholic church is just about at the bottom of its slide. Individual catholics can fend for themselves now. They would do much better to practice in private,than the look to the vatican for anything.

[IrishCatholic]

The speech you got was for post #4. You rated it.

[kcvl]

What are you talking about?

I haven't seen any of your speeches to anyone else. What's the problem? I thought you were tough on everyone who dared to give their opinions on the "hierarchy".

BTW, I guess you approve of Cardinal Bernard F. Law's appointment as archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome? But we can't have TERRORISTS having panties put on their heads or interrogated. The Pope scolds President Bush over that!