Replies

Oh, he has plenty of authority: more than he can handle, apparently. Remember Nicholas II? Imagine the harm Law could have done had he a wife.

Of course, the implication concerned the selective nature of his "authority". The board which he hires and fires has "authority" over him. Yah! Sure!

There is a timely article in today's Boston Globe concerning his use of "authority"

Curb imposed on Newton parish

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff, 12/5/2002

NEWTON - Cardinal Bernard F. Law, attempting to assert his authority even as criticism of his conduct rises to fever pitch, has summarily banned all church agencies from holding meetings at a vibrant Newton parish headed by an outspoken pastor who has questioned church teachings on gays and women and has sometimes chafed at Law's leadership.

Law offered no explanation for the ban, but it comes after the pastor, the Rev. Walter H. Cuenin, invited more than 100 priests to a gathering tomorrow to discuss concerns about the archdiocese's current fund-raising drive. The priests planned to discuss the difficulty of raising money when the archdiocese is considering bankruptcy and has been forced to release documents containing allegations of a priest striking a woman, another using drugs, and others molesting children and having sex with adults.

Law's action, barring all ''archdiocesan-sponsored or archdiocesan-related meetings'' from taking place on the grounds of Our Lady Help of Christians Church, has infuriated area priests, as well as parishioners at the booming church.

Entire article here->

The Globe only keeps their articles up for two days (free, that is). If you have an interest you'd beter go there today or tomorrow.

For years Law has tolerated vipers such as Cuenin--even worse than he. So now he gets bit.

C.WRight Mills said that power take three forms: authority, manipulation and force. Only the first enjoys full consent of the subject. As a bishop Law was given full authority. He has abused it by descending to lesser forms, encouraged by PR types, and finally he must try to use raw force. The problem is that he lacks the strength to use force. He is like Nixon at the end of his presidency.