Posted on 05/27/2004 8:50:34 AM PDT by ZULU
Vatican Appoints Cardinal Law Head of Rome Basilica
Thursday, May 27, 2004
VATICAN CITY Pope John Paul II (search) on Thursday gave Cardinal Bernard F. Law (search) an official position in Rome, naming the former Boston archbishop who resigned in the sex abuse scandal as head of a basilica.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Ruh-Roh! So now Law gets a new position, albeit an more or less honorary one, from the Pope. No punishment, but a reward for his coverup of priestly child abuse for years.
Not good.
Hide the altar boys.
Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who represents more than 130 alleged victims of sexual abuse by priests, said the Vatican was sending a bad message by giving Law a high profile new job.
"He apparently is being transferred to a position that is comfortable and appears to be some sort of reward," Garabedian said. "The Vatican either doesn't understand the problem of clergy sex abuse, or it doesn't care. That shows by this new prestigious post given to Cardinal Law."
Unfortunately, I have to agree with this statement. I am a staunch supporter of John Paul II, but this just doesn't look good. Not that the position is any more than a local parish Rector, but most Catholic and Non-Catholics don't know that. "Any" appointment via the Pope carries with it an appearance of prestiege. I think this is a mistake.
I'm sure the Lavender Mafia is celebrating this honor for one of their heroes. Did the Pope throw in two gold fish for the good Cardinal?
I'm just shaking my head in disappointment. Even if the post given to Law is ceremonial, he should be shamed rather than rewarded.
Ping...another train wreck in the making thread. Sigh.
That's over 18% of the parishes -- not quite one in five. That's a lot of closings.
"..I am a staunch supporter of John Paul II,.."
I wouldn't lay this charge at Pope Paul II, REGARDLESS of what the "Vatican" states. Pope Paul has lived a long and valiant life. But I am convinced he is no longer running the show, making decisions, or functioning as the head of the Church. He should be retired to a place of comfort and a new successor chosen.
Somewhere in the depths of the Vatican bureaocracy, contending forces are making decisions and statements and trying to make a place for themselves in the next administration.
Cardinal Law is a criminal. He is guilty of being an accessory after the fact, and possibly even an accessory during and before the fact. He belongs in a prison, not a basilica. Those Vatican functionaries responsible for this outrage belong there with him.
Zviadist's arguments are looking better all the time.
I'm not sure I go for "what's loosed" these days.
"The Vatican understands and cares. "
I don't believe the current Pope is functional.
I believe some people in the Vatican DO know and Do care.
But OBVIOUSLY, the cretin responsible for this action does not.
Right. If they understand and care, then they're sending the message that "the Church is gonna keep the lavender mafia in power and we DARE you do try to do anything about it."
I will agree that the older and sicker JP II gets, the more over-the-top" the statements are that are coming out of the Vatican. I don't think there is anything wrong with JPIIs mind; I still believe he has some control over these types of appointments and he could put the breaks on it. I'm sure we don't know the whole story, but Cardinal Law should be relegated to the gardening position of a monestary in the hillcountry somewhere.
Our parrish priest has been telling us for over 8 years that there was going to be church closings. It's not a money issue, it's a priest shortage.
2002 -9 priest ordained
2003 -5 priest ordained
2004 -7 priest ordained
The majority of priest are over 65 and will be retiring in the near future. Archbishop O'Mally did what he had to and that's to lead.
I am assuming those ordination numbers you posted are for your diocesan area. You sort of make it look like that's TOTAL ordinations for the country? World? There are many ordinations going on. I'm going to one for a good friend - seminarian in a few weeks. Having said that. You are correct; we have a serious priest shortage. We had a wonderful priest here that was accused of abuse 25 years ago. He was exhonorated, but it destroyed his ability to be a priest here so we lost him. Sad, sad, sad.
Then where, pray tell?
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