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.''
I'm Catholic and I'm perplexed.
"Law ought to be in prison, not given an honored position in the Pope's funeral. Did no one have a sense of shame in having Law do this?"
I agree.
I have been humbled and moved by the coverage and I am not a Catholic basher, as there are on FR. I'm married to a Catholic and my children were both baptized in the Catholic church. I don't have anything but the greatest respect for Jean Paul II. Especially since I had the good fortune to see him in person.
But allowing a person who covered up for pedophilia to be given an honored position at a Pope, who did so much and is loved by so many, is outrageous.
Child sexual abuse leaves lasting scars, and I know what I am talking about.
Anyway, as you said, SCG, it's shameful.
pardon me. I meant, an honored position at THE FUNERAL OF a Pope, not an honored position at a Pope. I'm sorry, everyone! I should have previewed.
I'm not even going to go where the obvious logicial conclusion of my stupid typo goes. It is far too distasteful and I love John Paul II too much for that.
would you say that if it was michael jackson on the plane?
So theologically, Law's misdeeds have no effect on his official role. The Church is showing pretty much of a tin ear, though.
maybe michael jackson can help with the celebration
Spoken like someone who's never had a priest put his hands on your b@lls, or worse, and then had it covered up for years by this man.
maybe donatus was on the something
this sounds like a religious version of letting clinton off because he was president.
evil is evil
"Remember, it's not just a sin. It's a felony!" - Robin Williams.
Jesus must be shedding tears at the thought of a pedophile protector celibrating His Mass.
"Spoken like someone who's never had a priest put his hands on your b@lls, or worse, and then had it covered up for years by this man."
Exactly.
These children had their innocence robbed from them.
The priests who did it and those covering up for them continue living their lives, while the victims pay the price in all kinds of ways.
Sexual abuse of children is more common than we think.
We have to assume, I guess that JPII never read the extensive portfolios on every abuse incident sent by Fr. Tom Doyle, Secretary to the US Catholic Bishops' Conference to the Congregation for the Clergy from 1982-1984. The scandal was just beginning to bubble, and Rome knew every gruesome detail.
It will be left to the next pope to come to the United States, to meet with the victims of these abusers, publicly and privately, apologize publicly, and celebrate a Mass of Reconciliation with the victims at his side. Only the Successor of Peter can offer the healing of the Universal Church to victims of an abomination perpetrated by representatives of the Church itself.
JPII is a saint. He apologized for Galileo, for the Church's role in the Holocaust, and for the Crusades.
He never could quite bring himself to squarely confront the sexual abuse scandal caused by his brother priests and bishops.
"Jesus must be shedding tears at the thought of a pedophile protector celibrating His Mass."
Yours is a very moving post. Yes, I think that Jesus would be shedding tears at this apparent corruption.
I am sure that Jesus would forgive Cardinal Law (and then tell him to sin no more!).
Just as Jean Paul II would have, or did (I'm not fully knowledgeable on this, but since JPII forgave his assasin, he would probably forgive Law).
But that doesn't mean that here on this earthly plane, that we (or the Church) should implicitly condone Law's actions by allowing him to have such an important role in the funeral mass of such an incredibly important man.
But, perhaps we are wrong. Or maybe human beings are just not "there" yet.
I think this brings up the razor's edge that lies between spirituality and earthly reality. I have discussed this often with my friends regarding going to war. I've fully supported GW Bush in Iraq (how long can we turn the other cheek).
On the other hand, I can understand why people would dislike the idea of war, period.
It is a very difficult issue. In some ways, I think that human beings are like spiritual toddlers, we continually grow towards development.
But it is not an easy path.
We spill our sippy cups or stick our fingers in the electrical socket almost every day. ;)
He never could quite bring himself to squarely confront the sexual abuse scandal caused by his brother priests and bishops.
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I agree. In all fairness, our Pope was likely too ill by that time to be fully involved in this issue. He may also have been badly advised by those surrounding him.
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This is the first I've heard of this. If it is correct, it puts a completely different perspective on the subject. It sounds to me as though you may have a more direct knowledge of the events than I, who only know what was reported in the local news, which was not terribly sympathetic to Cardinal Law.
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