Posted on 04/26/2002 11:03:22 AM PDT by history_matters
PHILADELPHIA - Embattled Boston archbishop Bernard Cardinal Law, under siege from the epic sex scandal threatening his 18-year legacy, will likely be replaced and sent to the Vatican by the beginning of June, according to sources.
Law, who arrived in Newark, N.J., yesterday after the historic two-day conclave of American cardinals at the Vatican, will be reassigned by Pope John Paul II to an as-yet determined position prior to a scheduled deposition of Law in a legal suit against the archdiocese, according to church officials.
``There will be a promotion by June at the latest,'' said one source. ``They will not have him subjected to a recorded deposition.''
One source said the pope is trying to rescue Law, who has been one of the Holy Father's favorite appointments, according to observers. Much of the public attention during the meetings in Rome was focused on Law and whether he should resign.
By reassigning Law, church officials and Law would avoid the stigma attached to a resignation under fire as well as continue to deny the resignation was considered.
``(The pope) genuinely likes him,'' said one church official. ``(Vatican officials) are still trying to find a place for him. They don't want to see him getting hammered like this.''
Moving Law to Rome by June would also take some of the pressure off American bishops who are scheduled to meet in Dallas that month to debate national standards for dealing with pedophile priests.
``(Law) would be the 500-pound gorilla'' in Dallas, said one official. ``With him gone to Rome, the discussions can be much more frank and direct.''
Law avoided reporters during the extraordinary cardinals' meeting in Rome earlier this week as well as yesterday. But as he departed Rome yesterday morning, he quashed rumors that his ``resignation'' was part of the discussions with his colleagues or the aging pontiff.
``You mentioned my resignation. That never came up,'' said Law, who has been under pressure Both in Boston and nationally to step down. ``I particularly was grateful for the Holy Father's talk. I think it was excellent. Very good spirit. Very frank, very open.''
The Herald reported earlier this month that Law offered his resignation, but was rebuffed for fear of causing a domino effect among other cardinals and bishops swept up in the growing cleric sexual abuse tempest. Law confirmed he made a secret trip to the Vatican where he discussed his resignation with his mentor, John Paul, but no action was taken.
The Los Angeles Times earlier this week reported that an unnamed cardinal would lobby the pope's inner circle to accept Law's resignation, but all the cardinals at the conclave publicly denied asking for Law to step down. The Times reported yesterday that an unidentified cardinal delivered a message during the meetings to the pope's deputies asking for Law's resignation.
William Cardinal Keeler of Baltimore said in Newark yesterday that Law was animated and ``very engaged'' during the closed meetings.
``I was delighted with the contributions he made,'' said Keeler. But, he added, Law has been deeply affected by the anger over his handling of priests who molest.
``He has taken it hard,'' said Keeler.
The outcry over Law's handling of the scandal, which shows no signs of abating, has begun to have an effect on church-related fund-raising. At least three corporations that have given to Catholic Charities' Boston branch in the past rejected its requests for a total of $800,000 within the past month specifically because of the scandal.
The not-for-profit, the state's largest private social service agency, has also seen a 10 percent drop in donations to its spring fund-raising campaign.
Law, whose only public appearance in Boston in the past several weeks was celebrating Mass last Sunday at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, is expected at a fund-raising dinner in Philadelphia tonight hosted by Anthony Cardinal Bevilaqua.
Law, who apologized to his fellow cardinals for being the cause of the historic gathering, did not attend the final press conference announcing the meeting's conclusions Wednesday evening.
``It was rather late, you know,'' he told reporters at Rome's airport. ``I had other things to do.''
Law is slated to celebrate Mass in Boston on Sunday.
Criticism of the summary of the cardinals' meetings continued to flow yesterday, many decrying the lack of a zero-tolerance policy. The cardinals instead proposed an expedited process for ``notorious . . . serial'' pedophiles and recommended adherence to canon law for first-time offenders.
At the start of the conclave, the pope issued his strongest statement about sexual abuse of minors, calling it a ``crime'' and saying there is no place in the church ``for those who would harm the young.'' But that did little to mollify those looking for swifter and stronger action against molesters.
``What came out of Rome was two revelations: sexual abuse of children is a crime and it won't be tolerated,'' said Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly. ``That's not news to law enforcement. These are crimes. Where have they been?''
Marie Szaniszlo and Herald wire services contributed to this report.
``What came out of Rome was two revelations: sexual abuse of children is a crime and it won't be tolerated,'' said Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly. ``That's not news to law enforcement. These are crimes. Where have they been?''
So, the coverup continues.
Poor Cardinal Law flees the United States for the rest of his natural life to avoid the process servers.
I wonder if he will hang out with Marc Rich?
This is what has become of the moral majesty of the Catholic Church.
Where is Bill Clinton with the pardon pen when Teddy's good buddy needs him?
However, if the suit is Boston, might not the judges be bought and paid for by the Catholic Church? Or the Democratic Party (and Senator Kennedy)?
I guess a Friend of the Pope can get away with most anything.
I believe that the Pope did Law a favor that Law was unwilling to do for the people to whom he was required to serve.
Maybe he will have unending nightmares about those little children who were molested by the perverts he sent to them.
I doubt that we will ever know, but we can dream of this type of reward for his efforts.
This is what you get when you allow homosexuals into the priesthood and Cardinals suck up to the Kennedy's.
I respectfully disagree.
Remember that Church official who was captured on tape telling the bishops how to deal with sexual misconduct claims?
And remember how he said if a bishop came across really bad stuff, he could always send it to the Church agency with diplomatic immunity so that it would never be disclosed (the Apostolic See?).
That is exactly what the Pope is doing here.
They don't need to send him to Rome to remove him from his position. They can just tell him to retire---maybe they can even support a claim of a health condition which mandates retirement.
And, remember, the Church has been fighting this deposition for a long period already.
The Church needs him outside the jurisdiction of the local courts. If he makes a clean getaway, there is no way the Church flies him back to Boston for depositions. He knows too much.
How will it look when a Cardinal of the Catholic Church is forced to repeatedly invoke the Fifth Amendment just like a common criminal?
They don't need to send him to Rome, but if you've been following, they don't want to look like the general public can decide who shoulf be an archbishop. They're moving him to Rome to avoid making it look like public pressure forced him to resign. I guarantee he will be back for any legal matter. (Law himself propbably thought until the last minute he could remain archbishop. Maybe he still does.)
Unbelievable statement. Does anyone have anything for a pounding headache?
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