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?
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.
Law was a cardinal long before the abuse scandal broke, so that certainly wasn't his punishment. And his assignment was as archpriest of a Roman basilica, a largely ceremonial role. It's not in the Vatican.