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Former Boston archbishop to lead a Mass of mourning for pope
Boston Herald ^ | Thursday, April 7, 2005 - Updated: 01:45 PM EST | By Associated Press

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.''


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bernardlaw; cardinal; johnpaul2; mccarrick; pedophiles; pope; sexabuse
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To: seamole
Your attempted defense of Law is weak.

Why would a cardinal write a letter of praise for the "ministry" of a priest who had abused multiple young men? Did Law think that was no big deal?

And I'd be careful denigrating SNAP. These are abuse victims, most of them in psychological counseling with their lives ruined by these predator priests.

They linked up with CALL TO ACTION because all the conservative organizations in Boston were defending Law and making arguments like yours, that these victims were in it for the money.

Oh, and Law was "targeted" because he had more abusers, who had abused more young people, than any of the next two dioceses on the list combined.

41 posted on 04/07/2005 6:09:12 PM PDT by sinkspur (If you want unconditional love with skin, and hair and a warm nose, get a shelter dog.)
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To: Dad2Angels

Why do you have to respond to a very reasonable post in such a manner?


42 posted on 04/07/2005 6:10:26 PM PDT by ndkos
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Comment #43 Removed by Moderator

To: StoneColdGOP

while I am hardly a fan of VOTF and other groups who are taking advantage of the sex abuse scandal to further their own liberal agendas, they are 100% on the money this time. Cardinal Law is an absolute disgrace and I am utterly bewildered why anyone would reward him by giving him the job of archpriest at St Mary Major. Why is he even still a cardinal? Is it possible to revoke someone's cardinalship? Law shouldn't have been allowed to even leave Boston in the first place - he should have stayed there to face whatever legal consequences came his way.

I hope the next pope comes down hard on these pervert priests and the bishops who enable them. The Church needs a major house-cleaning in this area. I too am inclined to think that John Paul's advanced age and illness contributed to his weak response to the scandal. He probably wasn't even aware of just how bad it was. Had the scandal come to light 15 or 20 years ago, I imagine the Pope's reaction to it would have been much stronger and more decisive.


44 posted on 04/07/2005 6:22:33 PM PDT by sassbox
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Comment #45 Removed by Moderator

To: sinkspur
Oh, and Law was "targeted" because he had more abusers, who had abused more young people, than any of the next two dioceses on the list combined.

**************

The abuse went on for many, many years. Seamole lives in MA, and may have some personal experience with those involved. I don't, so I can't speak to that, but I have met someone who knew Cardinal Law personally and thought he was a great man. Which may or may not mean anything.

46 posted on 04/07/2005 6:27:26 PM PDT by trisham
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To: StoneColdGOP

Archpriest Bernard "Bunny" Law is the Ted Kennedy of the Catholic church.

Nice that the prime symbol of the Pope's greatest church crisis will be celebrating his memorial mass.

There HAS to be a special place in hell for the likes of Law.


47 posted on 04/07/2005 6:37:39 PM PDT by SpinyNorman (Moral relativism is, by definition, the polar opposite of having values.)
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To: richmwill

I'm Catholic and am more than disturbed by this decision. I believe in forgiveness as much as the next guy (only God can judge Law's soul), however I believe having Law participate in the funeral will leave a bad taste in the mouths of all those watching on what would otherwise have been on the great, momentous celebration of the Pope's life.

What message is this sending to the world? I hate to ponder.


48 posted on 04/07/2005 6:37:59 PM PDT by Caravaggio
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To: Dad2Angels
Spoken like someone who's never

And you speak like a self-righteous pr1ck who's ready and willing to caste the first stone, the second, and as many more as are necessary.

Are you at all familiar with the Catholic faith?

49 posted on 04/07/2005 6:39:33 PM PDT by JohnnyZ (“When you’re hungry, you eat; when you’re a frog, you leap; if you’re scared, get a dog.”)
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Comment #50 Removed by Moderator

To: Jeff Gordon
Jesus must be shedding tears at the thought of a pedophile protector celibrating His Mass.

I don't recognize the version of Christianity you've concocted.

I don't want to be too presumptuous, but I would think that Jesus shed tears when Law was protecting pedophiles, and rejoices that Law is now performing his role faithfully in celebrating this Mass.

51 posted on 04/07/2005 6:45:29 PM PDT by JohnnyZ (“When you’re hungry, you eat; when you’re a frog, you leap; if you’re scared, get a dog.”)
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To: sinkspur
And I'd be careful denigrating SNAP. VOTF etc etc

Oops seamole said bad things about your gay liberal friends, uh oh....

52 posted on 04/07/2005 6:50:39 PM PDT by JohnnyZ (“When you’re hungry, you eat; when you’re a frog, you leap; if you’re scared, get a dog.”)
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Comment #54 Removed by Moderator

Comment #55 Removed by Moderator

To: Columba
Do you recognize who spoke this passage?

Yeah, I'm way ahead of you, Bubba. But do you understand the passage?

56 posted on 04/07/2005 7:09:18 PM PDT by JohnnyZ (“When you’re hungry, you eat; when you’re a frog, you leap; if you’re scared, get a dog.”)
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To: seamole
"Credibility" is determined by the legal climate for a civil trial.

You are welcome to defend Law all you want.

You are in a very small minority.

57 posted on 04/07/2005 7:18:21 PM PDT by sinkspur (If you want unconditional love with skin, and hair and a warm nose, get a shelter dog.)
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Comment #59 Removed by Moderator

To: seamole
In other words, there's a lynch mob, so I might as well join in?

Law's own priests ran him out of town.

He was a very good and holy man who had a blind spot in not recognizing the damage that his priests were doing to innocent victims.

That other bishops did the same thing does not absolve him. If he's the scapegoat, so be it, because he is not innocent.

60 posted on 04/07/2005 7:38:30 PM PDT by sinkspur (If you want unconditional love with skin, and hair and a warm nose, get a shelter dog.)
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