Breaking News - Boston's Cardinal Law Offers His Resignation

1 posted on 12/12/2002 9:25:25 AM PST by Lonely NY Conservative

To: Lonely NY Conservative

It must have been getting really, really hot in that kitchen.

2 posted on 12/12/2002 9:27:33 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

To: Lonely NY Conservative

Seems to me that it is about time....

3 posted on 12/12/2002 9:28:20 AM PST by babygene

To: Lonely NY Conservative

Don't let the big Cathedral doors hit you in the butt on your way out!!!!!!!

4 posted on 12/12/2002 9:28:21 AM PST by Saundra Duffy

To: Salvation; Polycarp; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway

Ping

It's just a report, but....

5 posted on 12/12/2002 9:28:24 AM PST by Desdemona

To: Lonely NY Conservative

as in the words of Gomer Pyle- "Surprise Surprise Surprise!!!!!!!!"

6 posted on 12/12/2002 9:28:36 AM PST by robjna

To: Lonely NY Conservative

7 posted on 12/12/2002 9:29:23 AM PST by mhking

To: Lonely NY Conservative

Hopefully Lott will be making a similar announcement.

8 posted on 12/12/2002 9:29:35 AM PST by TBall

To: Lonely NY Conservative

So when do the obstruction charges get filed?

9 posted on 12/12/2002 9:30:15 AM PST by TexanAmerican

To: Lonely NY Conservative

AP Article -

Cardinal Law Offers to Resign

Thursday, December 12, 2002

VATICAN CITY — Cardinal Bernard Law, under fire for his role in the sexual abuse scandal plaguing the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S., has offered his resignation, Fox News has learned.

Law has been meeting with church officials in the Vatican since Sunday, and is expected to meet with Pope John Paul II tomorrow.

The chorus of voices calling for Law's resignation grew louder late Wednesday as an influential reform group demanded that he step down, citing a "spiritual and moral crisis" in the Boston Archdiocese.

The lay reform group Voice of the Faithful said recent revelations detailing the extent of the abuse crisis left them with no choice but to publicly declare the archdiocese in need of new leadership.

"There is a state of spiritual and moral crisis in the Archdiocese of Boston," said Jim Post, president of Voice of the Faithful, which claims a national membership of 25,000. "In my judgment, the Archdiocese of Boston has effectively been without a bishop."

The vote Wednesday at Our Lady Help of Christians in Newton came the same day that lawyers released more files highlighting accusations of abuse in the archdiocese. In one case, a priest allegedly molested a boy on 21 consecutive nights during a cross-country trip in a Winnebago.

The documents follow the recent release of thousands of pages of archdiocese personnel files containing allegations that, in addition to molesting young boys, some priests abused drugs and had illicit affairs.

Seventy-one Voice of the Faithful members representing parishes in the Boston Archdiocese voted for the motion calling for Law to step down. Two were opposed and two abstained.

People in the crowd applauded after speakers aired their thoughts on the archdiocese and the scandal, prompting David Castaldi of Boston to warn that the meeting was not a "pep rally."

"Instead of applauding, you ought to be praying," said Castaldi, who voted in favor of the motion. He said he knows Law to be a "good man and a good priest" who has made poor decisions.

The action by Voice of the Faithful, which was started soon after the scandal erupted in January, is significant because for months its leaders have resisted pressure from members to demand Law's resignation.

The group said it had hoped to work with Catholic officials for reform within the church. But members said they could not avoid a confrontation with the Boston hierarchy.

Law has been at the Vatican this week meeting with church leaders amid speculation he may resign or get approval to declare bankruptcy in a bid to spare the Boston Archdiocese from financial ruin.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said Thursday that Law may meet with the pope Friday before an expected return to Boston.

Any decisions would be announced in Rome, Navarro-Valls said.

Law and bishops who worked for him have been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury looking into possible criminal violations by church officials who supervised priests accused of child sexual abuse, the Boston Globe reported Thursday.

State police from the office of Attorney General Thomas Reilly delivered Law's subpoena to his Boston residence Friday, the newspaper reported, citing anonymous sources. The next day, Law flew to Rome.

Reilly refused to comment when asked whether he had subpoenaed Law. Law's attorney, J. Owen Todd, did not return telephone calls.

While Law was in Rome, a letter from 58 priests asking the cardinal to resign was delivered to his residence Monday, and more priests have since endorsed the document. Separately, the 300-member Boston Priests Forum may issue its own resolution urging Law's resignation at a meeting Friday.

There are 912 priests in the archdiocesan ranks, a third of them retired, plus 732 clergymen in the region belonging to religious orders.

If pastors who lead a significant number of Boston parishes join the revolt, it could be difficult for Law to govern the archdiocese effectively.

The scandal has engulfed Boston for almost a year and pressure on Law has only increased since the archdiocese was forced to release 11,000 church personnel documents to attorneys representing hundreds of alleged victims.

So far lawyers have released about 5,400 of the documents in piecemeal fashion. They contain allegations of misconduct against 65 priests and suggest rogue clergy used drugs, abused young people — boys and girls — and, in one case, assaulted a housekeeper.

The personnel files released Wednesday included a letter written by Law to the Washington, D.C.-based Military Diocese in 1996 saying a priest who had been accused of molesting a boy had nothing in his past to prevent him from working with children as an Air Force chaplain.

The archdiocese issued a statement Wednesday saying it had notified the diocese for military service about the unsubstantiated allegation against the priest. A call to the archdiocese seeking further details was not returned.

Also Wednesday, the Rev. Paul Shanley, who has pleaded innocent to 10 counts of child rape, was released from jail on $300,000 bail after seven months behind bars.

The 71-year-old retired priest must remain in Massachusetts and cannot have contact with anyone under 16, or with alleged victims or witnesses.

Shanley's attorney, Frank Mondano, would not disclose where Shanley will live, saying he was concerned about his client's safety.

10 posted on 12/12/2002 9:30:22 AM PST by Lonely NY Conservative

To: Lonely NY Conservative

I've heard that Trent Lott might be looking for a job. Does he have to be Catholic to be a Cardinal?

11 posted on 12/12/2002 9:31:43 AM PST by inkling

How similar do you want; Cave-A-Lott holds new elections for the Republican leadership or Cave-A-Lott creates another 50-50 situation?

12 posted on 12/12/2002 9:32:02 AM PST by steveegg

Long past time...but as I recall he tried to resign in June and was told by the Vatican to stick it out. Wonder if they'll let him go this time? The Holy Father needs to accept his resignation and then demand the resignation of every bishop covering up sexual misconduct by their priests. I don't care if it takes 10 years to fill those Sees...a vacant seat is better than one filled by moral idiots. What good is a bishop who can't distinquish between sin and sickness?

13 posted on 12/12/2002 9:32:06 AM PST by pgkdan

To: Lonely NY Conservative

lucianne says that Law has resigned. Details to follow.

14 posted on 12/12/2002 9:32:13 AM PST by polemikos

15 posted on 12/12/2002 9:32:37 AM PST by GraniteStateConservative

To: Lonely NY Conservative

Okay. Now will that let him get off scot free or will it open him up to being sued?

16 posted on 12/12/2002 9:33:41 AM PST by Lady Jag

To: Lonely NY Conservative

If Barney Frank decides to retire, then this Paul Shankey can run as a Pervert Rat for congress and become a Congressit from Boston. He should get about 80% of the Boston votes.

Wednesday, the Rev. Paul Shanley, who has pleaded innocent to 10 counts of child rape, was released from jail on $300,000 bail after seven months behind bars. The 71-year-old retired priest must remain in Massachusetts and cannot have contact with anyone under 16, or with alleged victims or witnesses.

17 posted on 12/12/2002 9:33:43 AM PST by Grampa Dave

To: Lonely NY Conservative

Report: Law To Offer Resignation
Meeting Scheduled Between Cardinal, Pope

BOSTON -- Cardinal Bernard Law will offer his resignation when he meets with Pope John Paul II on Friday, according to an international news agency.

"I cannot confirm this report that Law has offered his resignation. But, in a way, it does not make a great deal of difference because he has not met with the pope, and that meeting is scheduled to take place tomorrow," National Catholic Reporter spokesman John Allen said. "It is up to the pope to decide whether or not to accept his resignation or ask for a resignation. There are some indications, and I emphasize that they are merely indications, that they may be moving in that direction. Some of my Vatican sources indicated that there may be movement in that direction, given the letter from 58 of Law's priests."

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls has confirmed that a face-to-face meeting has been scheduled between Law and the pope Friday.

"I was told by Navarro-Valls that if there is a decision, there will be an announcement of it tomorrow," Allen said. "So, while I am not in a position to tell you how this is going to turnout, tomorrow morning, here in Rome, is one that we all should be paying attention to."

Meanwhile, Law reportedly has been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury looking into possible crimes by church officials who supervised priests accused of child sexual abuse.

"I think that the focus in Rome has been so much on the two questions -- bankruptcy and then Law's personal future -- that the potential implications of that subpoena haven't yet registered. However, I would say that it doesn't help from the point of view of what ought to happen to Cardinal Law," Allen said.

Law and five of his former bishops reportedly have received subpoenas to appear before a state grand jury investigating whether crimes were committed in their supervision of priests accused of sexually abusing children.

Those bishops include John McCormack, of Manchester, N.H.; Robert Banks in Green Bay, Wis.; and William Murphy, of Rockville Center, N.Y.

It is not clear whether word of the subpoenas has reached the Vatican yet. The cardinal is said to have gotten his last Friday -- the same day he left Boston. He may have informed the Vatican leaders he has been meeting with this week concerning bankruptcy and his possible resignation.

While the Vatican remains tightlipped about how those meetings have been progressing, the press office there has promised some kind of statement once Law sits down with the pope to discuss his future.

The cardinal is said to be returning to Boston on Saturday. If he resigns, there is a possibility that the Vatican will wait to announce it until he gets a chance to inform his own people and his own archdiocese first.

On:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/1834732/detail.html

18 posted on 12/12/2002 9:34:27 AM PST by polemikos

To: GraniteStateConservative

19 posted on 12/12/2002 9:34:35 AM PST by steveegg

To: american colleen

Here's to hoping Boston gets somebody orthodox, conservative and willing to tell VOTF to take a hike.

On the Feast of the Virgin of Guadelupe no less. Somebody is looking out for us.

Deo Gratias

20 posted on 12/12/2002 9:34:36 AM PST by Desdemona

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