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it should have read Law, Weakland and Mahony. In the case of Law it was the Diocese of Boston, and his problem with the whole abuse scandal. Rather than uphold Church teaching, he permitted CTA to reform under the name of VOTF, and then resigned forcing many Church closings.

In this case it was Heterodox actions rather than writings, and even at that a case can be made that he simply lost control, and could not manage.

Rather than uphold Church teaching, he permitted CTA to reform under the name of VOTF, and then resigned forcing many Church closings.

I'm in Boston, and I think Law's situation is more complicated. He came into a real mess in 1984, and the AG's report shows that reported incidents of abuse declined precipitously from then; in fact, the report admitted grudgingly that, at the time of the report, they couldn't find any evidence of ongoing abuse. I could criticize (and have) many aspects of his methods, though my own feeling is that Bishop McCormack in particular was more culpable. (I pinged SuziQ and american colleen because I think they know more about it than I.)

It does seem clear now that VOTF is indeed CTA under "new (snicker) management" -- but that's not how they advertised themselves. OK, they're liars. In any case, they surely never sought anyone's permission!

More than I intended to say. I really only asked because I didn't recall any "writings" of Cardinal Law.

(P.S. I do enjoy and appreciate your posts!)

I don't know of any heterodox actions by Cardinal Law, unless you are talking about his actions regarding the abuse. He treated it no differently than most other Bishops in the country because it is how it had been treated by most institutions in the country. Didn't make it right, and he admitted that, that's just the way it was. He had begun to change things in the Boston Archdiocese when the story became big news, and there had been almost no occurences of abuse after he instituted them.

VOTF didn't really form until the abuse scandal became public. At the time, they billed themselves as 'concerned Catholics' who only wanted the public to be informed of what was going on. I had friends in my town who were interested in joining up until I told them what I had learned about the group, largely from folks here on FR! I think the Cardinal had enough on his plate that he probably wasn't watching who the leadership of VOTF was. Our Bishop here in Worcester allowed the group to form, and several folks I know DID go to the meeting, but realized quickly what they were all about and let others know right quick. I don't think they got too far here.