Rome's new cardinal sin

Boston Globe ^ | May 30, 2004 | Eileen McNamara

[tvn]

It wasn't enough to evict parishioners from 65 churches in the scandal-stained Archdiocese of Boston? The Vatican had to choose the same week to install the chief architect of this disaster in a Roman basilica?

Set aside the fundamental depravity of rewarding an unindicted coconspirator in serial child rape with a plush posting to the Eternal City. How much clearer a signal could the Roman Catholic Church send to the faithful that it administers justice in two tiers, one for the laity and another for its clerics?....

Saying the occasional Mass for five nuns in a suburban Maryland convent, between regular jaunts to Rome, earns Cardinal Bernard F. Law absolution for enabling and then covering up decades of crimes against children? Why didn't his confessor just tell His Eminence to say three Hail Marys and call it even?

The layer of frosting on this hierarchical hypocrisy was the pronouncement from Pope John Paul II on Friday that the United States is "a society increasingly in danger of forgetting its spiritual roots."

The Vatican's appointment of Law as head priest at the Basilica of St. Mary Major is an affront to every immigrant whose hard-earned nickels and dimes built the churches that will now be razed or sold off for condominiums to ease the financial burden brought by the clergy sexual abuse crisis. It does not matter whether the proceeds are used directly to pay the multimillion-dollar settlements to abuse victims. The coffers are empty because the scandal emptied the pews of the people and their checkbooks.

A diminished priesthood and disheartened laity could have inspired thoughtful reflection in Rome. Instead, it provoked a fearful retrenchment, an attack on American Catholics who question church policy on women priests, on celibacy, on the attempt to assert control over the votes of Catholic politicians.

[tvn]

Some reactions from Boston.

[Semper Paratus]

Eileen is taking the same medication as Al Gore.

[gilliam]

Cardinal Law has been given pretty much a nothing job. He has been sent off to pasture. I wish the homosexuals will leave him in peace now.

[arkfreepdom]

The layer of frosting on this hierarchical hypocrisy was the pronouncement from Pope John Paul II on Friday that the United States is "a society increasingly in danger of forgetting its spiritual roots."

I heard that statement and thought it funny coming from Europe. Although there probably is some truth to it.

[Tacis]

That's why Kerry and Pelosi are giving Rome the finger, as well. Roman Catholic dems know they don't have to pay any attention to church doctrine at any time because the are nuanced and kindred spirits. ALL of the Kennedys are laughing at Rome.

And, when Pelosi, Kerry and Kennedy praise today's court decision on abortion, they are daring the church to say word one. They KNOW the church will say NOTHING!!!

[sinkspur]

Law got a symbolic appointment, but, PR-wise, what a colossal blunder to "honor" him with anything!

[Mark in the Old South]

"Pelosi, Kerry and Kennedy .... They KNOW the church will say NOTHING"

You are right. I think is is becoming very clear this Pope is losing moral authority. I'm not saying that is as it should be, but just a point of fact.

He has lost control over Traditional Catholics and will not likely see a reconciliation in his lifetime. The feminist and the homosexual lobby have never liked him now the average churchgoing catholic is questioning his actions.

Since his ill health may linger for years and he seems to have no intention of fixing things, we will see more trouble ahead. Lord what will you send us in the next pope.

[tracer]

".....the churches that will now be razed or sold off for condominiums....."

Or perhaps mosques. You heard it first here, from a FReeper who has developed a very cynical world view and a knack for predicting future events.......

[siunevada]

It does not matter whether the proceeds are used directly to pay the multimillion-dollar settlements to abuse victims.

Let's not let facts get in the way of condemnation.

The coffers are empty because the scandal emptied the pews of the people and their checkbooks.

And never, ever, ever before in the history of the Catholic Church has there ever been a disloyal, disobedient or sinful priest or bishop. It is just too shocking to the "good" Catholics of the archdiocese.

an unindicted coconspirator in serial child rape

How well we recall the days of Watergate! Except now we can call someone a "co-conspirator" without any actual evidence of malice.

[Fast Ed97]

A diminished priesthood and disheartened laity could have inspired thoughtful reflection in Rome. Instead, it provoked a fearful retrenchment, an attack on American Catholics who question church policy on women priests, on celibacy, on the attempt to assert control over the votes of Catholic politicians.

Eileen McNamara, Columnist, The Boston Globe,

[The Grammarian]

The layer of frosting on this hierarchical hypocrisy was the pronouncement from Pope John Paul II on Friday that the United States is "a society increasingly in danger of forgetting its spiritual roots."

I heard that statement and thought it funny coming from Europe. Although there probably is some truth to it.

I find it more amusing that this statement comes from a Catholic, given that America's "spiritual roots" are in Puritanism and Methodism--both Protestant movements, the latter born of the former.

[Fast Ed97]

Eileen McNamara- This hag with a Catholic sounding name recently wrote that the Church should lose its exempt status because of opposition to gay marriage.

[Xenalyte]

Could the author ask any more questions? I mean, has she ever heard of a declarative sentence? Does your head hurt yet? You want to know how much mine hurts? What about your eyes? Would you be mad if I told you?

Okay, I'll stop now.

[american colleen]

Apparently Cardinal Law can't be prosecuted according to civil law or he would have been in prison months ago.

What do you do with a disgraced Cardinal? Put him in a meaningless but titled job somewhere in Rome. No stipend, no living quarters, he gets nada. If this job is so cool, what was the name of the previous owner of it?

[Non-Sequitur]

What do you do with a disgraced Cardinal?

How about making him the chaplain at some old folks home in East Toadstrangle, Texas?

[american colleen]

Be serious. What bishop or cardinal would want a notorious cardinal in their diocese? Plus you think an old folks home wants tv cameras and reporters skulking around all the time?

[Non-Sequitur]

What bishop or cardinal would want a notorious cardinal in their diocese?

Obviously the Bishop of Rome has no problem with it.

[sinkspur]

He has lost control over Traditional Catholics and will not likely see a reconciliation in his lifetime.

I'd wager some major coin that the next Pope will cut the SSPX loose and give it some unconditional ultimatums, if it wishes to reconcile.

Otherwise, adios.

[american colleen]

OK, you win. Personally, I couldn't care less where Cardinal Law is as long as he is not the head of a diocese, especially mine. I don't want to see his face in the newspapers and I don't want to see him on the nightly news. If he's in Rome, I don't have to see him and he can go on and work out his salvation in trembling and fear. Or not.