Posted on 04/07/2005 4:09:47 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP
VATICAN CITY - Cardinal Bernard Law, who resigned in disgrace as archbishop of Boston over his role in the clergy sex abuse crisis, has been given a role of honor in the mourning for Pope John Paul II.
The Vatican announced Thursday he will lead one of the daily Masses celebrated in the pope's memory during the nine-day period that follows the funeral, called Novemdiales. The service will be held Monday at St. Mary Major Basilica, where Law was appointed archpriest after leaving Boston.
Some Catholics in his former archdiocese immediately protested.
Suzanne Morse, spokeswoman for Voice of the Faithful, a Newton, Mass.-based reform group that emerged from the abuse scandal, said Law's visibility since the pope's death has been ``extremely painful'' both for abuse survivors and rank-and-file Catholics.
``It certainly shows and puts a spotlight on the lack of accountability in the Catholic Church, that the most visible bishop in the clergy sexual abuse crisis has been given these honorary opportunities,'' she said.
John King, 40, of Metheun, Mass., was a victim of the Rev. Ronald H. Paquin, a convicted rapist who was defrocked by the Vatican.
``It's a sad state of affairs,'' he said. ``They're just trying to make this go away, but I don't see how there's going to be any change now.''
David Clohessy, national director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, called it ``terribly insensitive.''
``It rubs salt into the already deep wounds of victims and it allows the best-documented complicit bishop to exploit the pope's death for his own selfish purposes,'' Clohessy said.
Law did not respond to a phone message left at the basilica.
He stepped down as archbishop 11 months after a judge unsealed court records in January 2002 that showed he had allowed priests with confirmed histories of molesting children to continue working in parishes.
Among the records were letters Law had written to some of the predators expressing support and thanks for their service to the church.
Many Boston Catholics already were upset about the pope's decision to appoint him to the basilica. The post is ceremonial but highly visible; the church is one of four basilicas under direct Vatican jurisdiction.
``I don't know what right he has saying a Mass of any kind, never mind for the pope,'' said Alexa McPherson, 30, who settled a lawsuit against the archdiocese alleging she was molested by the Rev. Peter Kanchong at St. Margaret's church in Dorchester. ``He shouldn't even be there. He should be in Boston behind bars.''
Chester Gillis, an expert in Catholicism at Georgetown University, said celebrating a Mass during the mourning period is not only an honor, but a position of influence.
In their homilies, cardinals usually indicate what they think are the key issues for the church ahead. Observers scour the speeches for clues to how a cardinal will vote.
``This is an ability to express oneself to one's colleagues all at one time,'' Gillis said.
Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston attorney who has represented more than 200 people who sued the church over alleged sexual abuse by priests, said Law's resurfacing has brought a new round of pain to victims.
``It clearly is an insult and a slap in the face,'' he said. ``Apparently the Vatican has taken the position that the clergy sexual abuse scandal must be swept under the rug.''
Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick said he did not know why Law was chosen, but said it was likely because the basilica is one of the great churches of Rome.
``It would be a natural selection,'' McCarrick said. ``The choice was certainly not made for any reason except to honor St. Mary Major.''
Asked if it was a Vatican signal that Law should be forgiven, McCarrick said, ``I think we feel we are all Easter people ... We look at the light rather than the darkness.''
The fourth-largest U.S. diocese has been shaken not only by Law's resignation after 18 years, but also by settlements of more than $85 million with more than 550 victims.
Law's successor, Archbishop Sean O'Malley, has also had to oversee a series of painful parish closures as the archdiocese adjusts to a shortage of priests and drop in collections.
O'Malley, in Rome for the pope's funeral, declined to comment on Law.
``We're here to talk about the pope,'' he said. In Boston, Ronald Lacey, 35, was among those who said Law's resignation as archbishop was irrelevant to his role in memorializing the pope.
``I think it was right for him to leave the Archdiocese of Boston,'' said Lacey, who was attending midday Mass at a downtown chapel. ``But if he grieves the death of the Holy Father, I think that's right, too.''
There appear to be many atheists concerned over one having a high position in a major church?
You people are all lies and misrepresentations. Are you capable of being honest or must you speak with a forked tongue?
He was not "honored for what he has done" -- get a grip.
#121 for you too.
He's a POS.
Actually it was homosexual predators that were the perpretators of the child 'molestation'...
These things happen anywhere when one person's testimony pits them against anothers' where evidence is negligible. Oftentimes it becomes a witchhunt, and I agree... this isn't what our justice system was meant to become. And on top of that, there's no love lost between parts of our legal system and that of the Catholic Church. It's been that way here and abroad for a long, long time and I don't see that changing anytime soon. That being said, I still think that if someone points out a fault of mine, be it imagined or factual, it's in my best interest to analyze their viewpoint and see if there's anything to correct, if I want to correct it if there is, and if I CAN. Introspection is most easily started from outside. It's no different with an organization.
In this process of self-analyzation, the Catholic Church seems to be saying to a great many people that there is no problem with Cardinal Law, which a large number of people are going to take offense to. Defend him, fine. Defend the church's relatively silent position, fine. But realize there are going to be people that don't see things your way, and they aren't necessarily idiots for entertaining a contrary view.
Do either of you know who are the ArchPriests of the two other Basilicas that were potential sites for the Mass on Day 4 (St. JOhn Lateran and St. Paul-outside-the-Walls)? I've hunted everywhere and can't find out. Thanks.
Actually it was homosexual predators that were the perpretators of the child 'molestation'...
I didn't say Law was a molestor. I said he abetted them. Do you deny that he did?
How was he "honored" -- by being demoted to a position in Rome? You hear that from Cardinals all the time: "gee, I wish I could go to Rome and take over St. Mary Major!"
Let me ask you, is Law doing a good job as Cardinal now? We assume he doesn't have perverts to deal with. And you admit he was good in his other duties as Cardinal. But you cannot forgive. Do you think he's not worthy to celebrate Mass? Do you think St. Mary Major is not worthy of hosting any important Masses?
Geez, if they stuck Law in a monastery somewhere you'd be offended if it was named Monastery of the Year. If they sent Law to the moon you'd be offended if you saw it at night. You just need to build a bridge and get over it, or at least take a baby step and blame the perverts who actually perpetrated the abuse.
This is pure fantasy. People think it's all about them. It's not all about them.
Defend him, fine. Defend the church's relatively silent position, fine.
Also fantasy.
This culture of victimology is unworthy of good Catholics
and of John Paul the Great. These people should be focused on their late pastor -- the Pope of Popes -- not on revenge.
Speaking as a non-Catholic, I think they are poor advertisements for their Church.
Unfortunately, this is what passes for "conservative" in the Catholic Church. It does little good to oppose homosexuality if one buys into the evolutionism and higher criticism that feeds it and other things like it.
Amen.
I agree with the facts known and assume I do not know all the facts. Cardinal Law is not in jail AND being familiar with management I am sure there were several assistants and or administrators who have not been arrested -so explain that to me?
And you admit he was good in his other duties as Cardinal.
He may have been - I don't know but I'll concede it.
Do you think he's not worthy to celebrate Mass? Do you think St. Mary Major is not worthy of hosting any important Masses?
I'm not a member of the church, so I don't know what the church considers as worthy to lead a mass.
Geez, if they stuck Law in a monastery somewhere you'd be offended if it was named Monastery of the Year. If they sent Law to the moon you'd be offended if you saw it at night. You just need to build a bridge and get over it, or at least take a baby step and blame the perverts who actually perpetrated the abuse.
Nope. If Law hadn't been given this high honor to give this mass for the late pope, I never would have heard about St Mary Major and I wouldn't be complaining now. And yes, I consider Geoghan and the like to be a major order of magnitude more wrong and evil than Law. But my belief is that what Law did is still incredibly wrong and led to the molestation of more children than otherwise would have happened, and when the Catholic church chooses to honor him by allowing him to lead this mass that will be watched by the world, it tells me that the Catholic church doesn't care about this issue as much as most other people do. Any institution that relies on symbolism as much as the Catholic church does ought to realize that.
For one thing you're gonna have to define "higher criticism" for us.
For another, we don't know what you're talking about with evolution -- are you a creationist? Do you think there's a conflict between the religious truths communicated in Genesis and the scientific facts that contribute to evolutionary theory?
Regarding conservatism, I agree it is tragically ironic that when Cardinal Law was being attacked for being too heavy-handed and conservative it turns out his problem was not being hard-nosed ENOUGH.
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