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Consolation for Boston Catholics? (Pope immediately bans Cardinal Law from St. Mary Major)
RNS ^ | March 15, 2013

Posted on 03/16/2013 10:15:57 AM PDT by NYer

Cardinal Bernard Law in 2008.

Cardinal Bernard Law in 2008.

Boston Catholics (myself included) were rooting for Cardinal Sean O’Malley to ascend to the throne of St. Peter this week. That didn’t pan out, as we all know, but maybe Catholics there received something of a consolation prize.

The British tabloid The Daily Mail writes that Italian media is reporting that Boston’s disgraced former archbishop, Cardinal Bernard Law, 82, is being banished from his cushy residence by Pope Francis:

But first days are all about making a good impression – even when you’re the Pope.

So when the appearance of a disgraced cardinal threatened to cast a shadow over his first engagement, Francis I made sure it couldn’t happen again – by banning him from his own church.

Cardinal Bernard Law resigned as Archbishop of Boston in 2002, after being accused of actively covering up for a litany of paedophile priests.’

Despite the scandal which exploded to engulf the entire church, he was given an honorary position at the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, in Rome.

Though now retired, the cardinal still enjoys a grace and favour apartment in the cathedral complex.

So hearing that the new Pope was offering prayers at the very same church, it seems he couldn’t resist a discreet peak.

But when Pope Francis recognised him, he immediately ordered that Law be removed, according to Italian media reports. He went on to command: ‘He is not to come to this church any more.’

One of the new Pope’s first acts will be to arrange new ‘cloistered’ accommodation for the disgraced cardinal, the Italian daily, Il Fatto Quotidiano, reported.

The firm stance was greeted with cautious enthusiasm by campaigners for victims of sexual abuse. David Clohessey of Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said: ‘If he is permanently banned we are slightly encouraged.’

It was dark days in Boston when the Globe broke the story about the clergy sex abuse and subsequent cover up, leading to worldwide revelations that decades of evil had been swept under the rug by senior Catholic prelates. That Cardinal Law wasn’t charged with a crime, despite the best efforts of the Massachusetts attorney general, was bad enough. When he was whisked off to Rome and given a prestigious assignment, Catholics in Boston were stunned. And while Cardinal O’Malley has made great progress in restoring trust in the local church, this always left a bit of a sour taste. If the report is true, Pope Francis will have some good will from people in the Bay State.

And, more importantly, is this the first step in cleaning up the curia?


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Moral Issues
KEYWORDS: bernardlaw; boston; conclave; massachusetts; pedophilia; popefrancis; romancatholicism
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1 posted on 03/16/2013 10:15:57 AM PDT by NYer
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To: netmilsmom; thefrankbaum; Tax-chick; GregB; saradippity; Berlin_Freeper; Litany; SumProVita; ...

Just “wow”!, ping


2 posted on 03/16/2013 10:16:27 AM PDT by NYer (Beware the man of a single book - St. Thomas Aquinas)
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To: NYer

I just read that it is not true that he was banished to a monastery.


3 posted on 03/16/2013 10:18:45 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: NYer

Then I was right yesterday. Wow. Once he hears about Mahoney, he should be next.


4 posted on 03/16/2013 10:22:32 AM PDT by onyx (FREE REPUBLIC IS HERE TO STAY! DONATE MONTHLY! IF YOU WANT ON SARAH PALIN''S PING LIST, LET ME KNOW)
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To: Sacajaweau
I just read that it is not true that he was banished to a monastery.

It would be helpful if you could post your source. Thanks!

5 posted on 03/16/2013 10:22:37 AM PDT by NYer (Beware the man of a single book - St. Thomas Aquinas)
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To: NYer
Cardinal Bernard Law resigned as Archbishop of Boston in 2002, after being accused of actively covering up for a litany of paedophile priests.’ Despite the scandal which exploded to engulf the entire church, he was given an honorary position at the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, in Rome.

Though now retired, the cardinal still enjoys a grace and favour apartment in the cathedral complex. So hearing that the new Pope was offering prayers at the very same church, it seems he couldn’t resist a discreet peak. But when Pope Francis recognised him, he immediately ordered that Law be removed, according to Italian media reports. He went on to command: ‘He is not to come to this church any more.’

One of the new Pope’s first acts will be to arrange new ‘cloistered’ accommodation for the disgraced cardinal, the Italian daily, Il Fatto Quotidiano, reported.

While I heartily applaud this new action, we've been told for years that giving Law a cardinalship and sending him to the Vatican was his punishment. If so, why punish him further?

6 posted on 03/16/2013 10:34:59 AM PDT by Alex Murphy ("If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all" - Isaiah 7:9)
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To: NYer

Repentance is highly over-rated.

I wonder what Jesus thinks of this action?


7 posted on 03/16/2013 10:36:44 AM PDT by MeOnTheBeach
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To: NYer

NYer, thanks, as usual for posting, you posted something a few days before the conclave, one of only a few things I read, not wanting to get too wrapped up.

I can’t seem to find it.

It was about how the next pope will be the third in the series of three necessary to clean up the Curia, so to speak.

anyway, this Cardinal Law story is something that slipped right by this week.

I saw something about it.

Our media is not reporting it too boldly.

It is good news for anyone interested in seeing courage in action especially in our leaders who need to use it in order to carry out the justice required to eradicate evil.


8 posted on 03/16/2013 10:46:08 AM PDT by stanne
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To: NYer

bye bye you jowly old shameful pig (((((((((


9 posted on 03/16/2013 10:58:28 AM PDT by PraiseTheLord (economic civil war ?)
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To: NYer
Report that pope to exile (Cardinal Bernard) Law 'totally false,' Vatican says
10 posted on 03/16/2013 10:59:40 AM PDT by marshmallow (.)
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To: stanne

I saw somewhere that Pope Francis is a real kick-___ kind of guy.

Guess there is a nice balance there, and one can get away with that sort of thing - with his obvious deep humility showing all over the place. What can anyone say - haha.

Keep it up, Holy Father !

(Not to belittle what is going around that our previous Holy Father was kicking 200-300 bishops out of their cushy’s PER MONTH. WAY TO GO !!!!!!!!


11 posted on 03/16/2013 11:08:00 AM PDT by PraiseTheLord (economic civil war ?)
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To: marshmallow

Saw that thread and pinged it to my list. Since it comes from the National Catholic fishwrap, I question its veracity.


12 posted on 03/16/2013 11:15:03 AM PDT by NYer (Beware the man of a single book - St. Thomas Aquinas)
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To: NYer
Report that pope to exile Law 'totally false,' Vatican says
13 posted on 03/16/2013 11:26:22 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("Somebody has to be courageous enough to stand up to the bullies." --Dr. Ben Carson)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Saw that thread and pinged it to my list. Since it comes from the National Catholic fishwrap, I question its veracity.


14 posted on 03/16/2013 11:46:14 AM PDT by NYer (Beware the man of a single book - St. Thomas Aquinas)
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To: Alex Murphy

Whether true or false, the rumor of the new Pope having made a gesture seems to have ended all hints of a defense of Law.

Now people post as though they knew that he was a villain and guilty, all along and never offered any defenses of him.


15 posted on 03/16/2013 11:54:59 AM PDT by ansel12 ( August 29,2008 A Natural Born Reformer inadvertently unleashed within palace walls, change ensues.)
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To: NYer
Saw that thread and pinged it to my list. Since it comes from the National Catholic fishwrap, I question its veracity.

I don't.

It's published in the NCR but John Allen wrote it. He usually does his homework and is seldom wrong.

16 posted on 03/16/2013 11:59:29 AM PDT by marshmallow (.)
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To: NYer

http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/report-pope-exile-law-totally-false-vatican-says


17 posted on 03/16/2013 12:39:06 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: marshmallow

” “ Saw that thread and pinged it to my list. Since it comes from the National Catholic fishwrap, I question its veracity. “
I don’t.

It’s published in the NCR but John Allen wrote it. He usually does his homework and is seldom wrong. “ “

oooops !????

I was under the impression that that ‘John Allen’ character is inevitably always wrong. And misleading. Like on purpose.

His only way to draw any attention - like trying to create some fuss or other over scandalous nothings. Pitiful.
Surely fishwrap.


18 posted on 03/16/2013 12:43:04 PM PDT by PraiseTheLord (economic civil war ?)
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To: PraiseTheLord

Your impression is very wrong. Allen is pretty reliable.

Perhaps you should not rely on your impressions so much.


19 posted on 03/16/2013 12:56:53 PM PDT by Houghton M.
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To: NYer
Pope immediately bans Cardinal Law from St. Mary Major)

OK, but how are Common Law and Civil Law faring post election? I don't want to ask about Martial Law.

20 posted on 03/16/2013 1:07:50 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by Nature, not Nurture™)
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