[MineralMan]

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.

[Non-Sequitur]

Hide the altar boys.

[Integrityrocks]

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.

[Polycarp IV]

Ping...another train wreck in the making thread. Sigh.

[Truth666]

timing

May 25, 2004 - BOSTON — The Boston Archdiocese will lose 65 of its 357 parishes, a massive restructuring brought on partly by the clergy sex abuse scandal that aggravated already shrinking Mass attendance and weekly collections.
At St. Susanna Parish in Dedham, some parishioners gasped and others cried while the pastor, the Rev. Stephen Josoma, announced that the church would close.
"I feel like we've been betrayed," said Bob Frasca, 74, a retiree who has attended the church since it opened 42 years ago. "I will not give another dime to the archdiocese."

[Redleg Duke]

I believe that I heard on the radio recently that the Archdiocese of Boston is closing 65 parishes due to low attendance since the scandal broke.

[Askel5]

Zviadist's arguments are looking better all the time.

I'm not sure I go for "what's loosed" these days.

[lonerepubinma]

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.

[Use It Or Lose It]

This action mirrors the years of clerical hide and seek that the Bishops played with offending priests. Move 'em around, move 'em up, hide the evidence. Such blatant disregard for the victims of priestly pedophilia should come as no surprise to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. It's a typical reaction of a tin-ear Church.

[Moose4]

I'm not quite up on all the details of the scandal, so forgive me if this question is a bit out of line, but...

I assume that Cardinal Law will have to move to Rome to fulfill his new ceremonial duties. Are there possible criminal charges headed his way over the scandal? Does this get him out of the country and away from possible prosecution, or perhaps lawsuits?

I honestly think that some people in the Vatican--perhaps the Pope himself--don't quite understand how this looks. They aren't looking at things with a wide enough viewpoint.

}:-)4

[Unam Sanctam]

I think Cardinal Law was incompetent and not a good shepherd, but I don't think he was a bad person at heart and I thank him for the idea of the catechism. While he was not a disciplinarian, I don't think he actively preached or promoted unorthodox doctrine. I think he has suffered ignominy and if he can serve this ceremonial position with honor, more power to him.

[Fast Ed97]

[Salvation]

I missed this!