Cardinal Law was fully investigated by the state Attorney General and the district attorneys in all five counties of the Archdiocese. He gave evidence before two grand juries. The state Attorney General, after several years of aggressive press and intense scrutiny, concluded that Law had not tried to evade investigation and had not broken any laws.
If there were a warrant against Cardinal Law, nothing in US and International law would have shielded from extradition or indictment. Certainly not the mere fact that he was, and is resident in Rome. He could be picked up by the Italian police any day as he traveled to and from Sta. Maria Maggiore, which is on Italian, not Vatican City, territory.
Ladyjane, you make the interesting charge that ”The Massachusetts AG actually sent troopers to Cardinal Law’s residence to serve him with papers one afternoon.”
Can you provide a link on that? A date? I haven’t seen that in the press.
If that's true, why wasn’t he extradited?
Upon turning 80 in November 2011, Law became ineligible to participate in any papal conclave or to hold any Curial memberships, and was replaced as archpriest of Sta Maria Maggiore more than a year ago, by Archbishop Santos Abril y Castelló.
As I said before, I would appreciate any updates or correction with, of course, links.
My recollections aren't always accurate anymore, but I really was of the impression that Law was afraid to come back to Boston. If I'm wrong, why is he retired in another country instead of spending his final years near family and friends.
Here in Philadelphia, if Cardinal Bevilacqua hadn't died, I have no doubt he'd be sitting in a cell next to Msgr. Lynn and serving a longer sentence
If you have a connection you should try to listen to WBZ tonight. There is a program on about Cardinal Law and the sex abuse scandal. These are not anti-Catholic folks. They’re very informed about the history, the problem and the cover-up. They feel it’s pretty clear, the former Cardinal Law isn’t going to come back and face questions.