Cardinal Law, Ousted in U.S. Scandal, Is Given a Major Role in Rites

New York Times ^ | April 8, 2005 | Laurie Goodstein

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ROME, April 7 - Cardinal Bernard Law, who was forced to resign in disgrace as archbishop of Boston two years ago for protecting sexually abusive priests, was named by the Vatican today as one of nine prelates who will have the honor of presiding over funeral Masses for Pope John Paul II.

To many American Catholics, Cardinal Law is best known as the archbishop who presided over the Boston archdiocese as it became the focus for the sexual abuse scandal involving priests.

But to Vatican officials, Cardinal Law is a powerful kingmaker who traveled internationally for the church and whose favorite priests were regularly appointed bishops by John Paul. After he stepped down in Boston in 2003, he was given a spacious apartment and a prestigious although honorary post in Rome as archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

It is by virtue of this position that he was given the high-profile role of celebrating Monday's funeral ritual, the third in the nine-day mourning period that follows a pope's death. It is expected that most of the cardinals will attend the Mass, which will be open to the public. Cardinal Law will deliver a homily that many Vatican watchers will parse for clues about the cardinals' thinking on who should be the next pope.

By permitting Cardinal Law to take the limelight in Rome just when the church is mourning the death of John Paul, the cardinals have reminded American Catholics that their most painful recent chapter barely registered in the Vatican.

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What does seem to be an American problem is the ability to forgive. Why do Latin cultures find it easier to forgive their fathers for even the most hideous sins? could it be your puritan background? Also is the amazing ability you have to forget a man's good works. This man suffered death threats from a lynch mob for his support of the civil rights movements. It seems that the mob, albeit under another guise now, will only be happy when they have their scalp.

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What does seem to be an American problem is the ability to not [mine] forgive. Why do Latin cultures find it easier to forgive their fathers for even the most hideous sins? could it be your puritan background? Also is the amazing ability you have to forget a man's good works. This man suffered death threats from a lynch mob for his support of the civil rights movements. It seems that the mob, albeit under another guise now, will only be happy when they have their scalp.

I must disagree with your assertion. While it is true that we do have a Puritan background, our ability to forgive (probably to our detriment) is legend.

It seems to largely be Mediterranean, Middle European, and Middle Eastern Cultures that carry on vendettas for centuries.

If for example, one looks at the American Civil War, the bitter animosities that arose have been mainly put to rest, although there remains a vestige of lingering resentment.

Another famous example would be the feuding between the Hatfield's and McCoys (a long standing and bitter family battle) who buried the hatchet years back.

To get back to your original point, the perceived condoning of child molestation is a serious hot button issue in America, perhaps because not only is it a relatively new phenomena here, but on the rather large scale upon which it happened.