Former Boston archbishop given role of honor in mourning for pope

[wicket]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/04/07/former_boston_archbishop_to_lead_a_mass_of_mourning_for_pope/

Cardinal Bernard Law, who resigned in disgrace as archbishop of Boston over his role in the clergy sex abuse crisis, has been given a role of honor in the mourning for Pope John Paul II.

The Vatican announced Thursday he will lead one of the daily Masses celebrated in the pope's memory during the nine-day period that follows the funeral, called Novemdiales. The service will be held Monday at St. Mary Major Basilica, where Law was appointed archpriest after leaving Boston.

Some Catholics in his former archdiocese immediately protested.

Suzanne Morse, spokeswoman for Voice of the Faithful, a Newton, Mass.-based reform group that emerged from the abuse scandal, said Law's visibility since the pope's death has been "extremely painful" both for abuse survivors and rank-and-file Catholics.

[DesEtoiles]

1. bumpersticker:"My Pedophile Priest Opposes Gay Marriage"

[Tweed]

2. How 'clever'

Were you up all night thinking of that one? :eyes:

[TahitiNut]

6. (Hmmm...) So, it seems obvious to you?

I guess some people have to think about what might be obvious to others. :shrug:

[VegasWolf]

24. It's just Truth in Advertising! n/t

[autorank]

40. LOL!!!

:yourock:

[Ernesto]

3. How nice.......... n-t

[OneBlueSky]

4. wonder if he gets to choose his own altar boys . . . n/t

.

[Southsideirish]

5. The pastor at my church said that at a priest's seminar held after the

big child molestation charges first broke the primary emotion among the priest's was anger. I always wondered exactly what were they angry about? I would think it would have been shame and embarrassment. I'm afraid there may be a code of silence and protection among "men of the cloth" akin to that among policemen when one of theirs is accused of wrong doing.

[Zhade]

28. Why, anger that they got caught, of course.

Do you think sexual predators usually feel shame and guilt? Nah, they're just pissed their "fun" was interrupted (note I didn't say STOPPED).

[unhappycamper]

7. this is a case of us dumping our garbage over there.

[WI_DEM]

8. now I haven't been bashing the Pope or making jokes of his passing

but I do feel this is inappropriate. It is sending the wrong message to have one fo the key figures of the Boston area priest scandal to have such a honorable role.

[Trillo]

9. Rather telling, isn't it?

Perhaps the RCC is sending exactly the message they wish to send.

[wicket]

12. I completely agree

I live in Boston and this is not going to go over well at all.

[ngGale]

56. I'm not in Boston and it isn't going well....n/t

[northzax]

17. why be concerned about that?

JPII already gave Cardinal Law political asylum in the Vatican City to avoid prosecution in the US. Once you've done that, what's the big deal about letting him defile your church?

[Zhade]

29. Zing!

NT!

[saracat]

10. This is inappropriate. I can't believe the Pope would want this.

Talk about the Church punching itself in the eye! This is almost as bad as Bush going to the funeral!

[concord]

16. The Pope brought him to Rome

Of course he would want this. Very appropriate IMO.

[northzax]

20. exactly, everyone should remember that Cardinal Law fled the US

ahead of the law on conspiracy charges and was granted political asylum in the Vatican. He can basically never leave Vatican City again, since Italy has extradition agreements with the US, and the only reason he wasn't indicted was to avoid an international incident.

you could argue that JPII was ignorant of the pedophilia and machinations of the US church and still respect him, but HE granted Law the equivalent of asylum, no one else. JPII deliberatly sheltered someone from prosecution for conspiracy to commit child abuse.

remember that when you mourn him. That act alone should have him roasting in hell. Pedophiles makes baby jesus cry.

[Stuckinthebush]

21. Wasn't the pope part of the protection?

I'm not so sure he wouldn't want it - he may have even directed it knowing about his imminent death.

[Zhade]

30. You can't? I can. When the pope gave him asylum, I knew where he stood.

And it was NOT, NOT, NOT! the side of justice! (Can you tell that systemic child abuse and the official coverup of that abuse by the RCC tend to PISS ME THE FUCK OFF?)

[lastliberalintexas]

11. What an incredible slap

in the face to the victims and their families. How sad and shameful. Bernard Law should be in prison, not hiding behind any church's sanctuary status.

[mutus_frutex]

13. Why is anyone surprised??

The RCC is VERY protective of its priests. They always err in their favor.

I've had discussions with some fundamentalist catholics that, in some twisted use of logic, blame the victims. They consider that most of the "crimes" were not such since the victims were teenagers able to consent.

The RCC is a corrupt, undemocratic organization. Period.

[THUNDER HANDS]

14. its rather fitting

since the Pope all but condoned the sex abuse himself, might as well have an enabler honor him.

[newscott]

15. While I'm not saying what he did was right

I don't see what the big deal is.

The church is all about forgiveness is it not?

Sure, he should have been prosecuted for his complicity in these crimes, but I don't think that will ever happen.

He has been judged and sentenced by his church. You can call that inappropriate or not just if you want I won't argue the point. But the church accepted his resignation as punishment and assigned him elsewhere.

[nashville_brook]

18. always good to show forgiveness. elevating him to this position just shows

how tolerant the church really is, after all.

can't wait till he's given sainthood.

[wicket]

19. he wasn't judged or sentenced, he was PROMOTED!

[newscott]

26. The great and lingering shame he brought upon

the Archdiocese of Boston will not soon be forgotten.

It's little comfort, but that's huge in the Nation's 4th largest Diocese.

[northzax]

54. and remember that the Vatican cares about it so much

that he's giving masses to mourn the pope. There are 117 cardinals under 80 who could do this. they picked him. remember that when the collection plate comes around on sunday.

[Al-CIAda]

32. Hmmm, remind you of somplace else?

As a former Catholic, this is but further 'confirmation' my judgement was correct.

[Zhade]

31. Even if he'd been judged and forgiven (ROFLMFAO!)...

...to give him ANY kind of honor is unseemly.

I tend to think that priests who hide from the law those who RAPE CHILDREN should never be given a seat of honor, except maybe on an electric chair.

[barb162]

22. I heard that this morning and thought Why in the world....

[SpiralHawk]

23. My dear, sainted, grey-haired mother will have a cow

when she learns about Bernie Law being "honored."

She has been a devout Catholic for her 84 years, and when Bernie Law was first named Archbishop and Cardinal in Boston he could not have had a bigger supporter.

But Bernie's shameful lies and evasions about Catholic priest pedophilia, and the shameful lies and evasions of the whole institution of the Catholic church, have convinced her now that thier "holinesss" is pretend. They let the young men and women of the church suffer predation, did nothing about it, and then lied to cover it up.

Such a track record deserves no honor, not even in the Church of Baked Beans.

Saints preserve us. I fart in the general direction of Bernie Law and all the "Royalty of the Vatican' who are complicit in this travesty of morals and justice.

[grumpy old fart]

25. Check out MADem's posts on this thread for some perspective....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3442358

[readmylips]

27. Cardinal Bernard Law is not a pedophile.

Cardinal Law is guilty of shifting RUMORED pedophile Priests. After the trial, some Priests were found guilty and Cardinal Law resigned. Took blame.

Again people, you are looking at the problem as if Cardinal Law was a US politician. He's a spiritual leader and the title Cardinal will never be taken away from him. Those Catholics protesting should study their own religion before making conclusions. The Pope himself pardoned the guy who tried to kill him. Some of those revengeful Catholics (they did get paid millions) should take lessons from the Pope.

[KittyWampus]

33. You Mean He Couldn't Be Excommunicated & Defrocked?

[autorank]

39. cryingshame, Great point. He should be held accountable.

[autorank]

37. "We don't deal with our problems, we transfer them."

You should learn something about pedophilia. You don't forgive something that someone does when that person (a) feels they've done nothing wrong; (b) when they will continue to do the crime; and (c) when your forgiveness results in a continuation of the crime.

Your statement is totally lacking in any merit whatsoever. If is highly provocative, as a result.

Cardinal Law engaged in gross negligence that contributed to crimes and suffering, period. He should have been indited. Even though he was not indited, anyone with a scintilla of intelligence would know that he was guilty of causing great harm. Why do you think the Boston church is paying out tens of millions of dollars.

Nobody looks at this as though he were a US politician. We look at it for what it is: enabling illegal and grossly harmful behavior against citizens by a citizen; he's no more or less before the eyes of the law.

He belongs in jail.

[readmylips]

43. Cardinal Law could not punish anyone on Rumors....

that is exactly what they were. After the trial many Priests were found guilty, the Vatican - Not Cardinal Law, removed the Priests and they are now in jail. These were crimes of citizens against citizens, but only the LAW could decide the outcome, not Cardinal Law.

If you are rumored to have committed a crime, your family allows the Law to investigate and take action. Your family is not committing gross negligence if they stand by you until the Law is fulfilled.

[autorank]

44. Your argument makes no sense. Management has a responsibility

to manage. You do not wait to dismiss an employee until they're convicted in court. That is silly and no corporation or nonprofit operates that way. You have a responsibility to do your own internal quality management and take actions based on that or reviews generated by outside reports. Don't tell me that the RCC, with centuries of history, can't do it's own investigation and take corrective actions.

You are awfully interested in absolving Law et al of their gross mismanagement and negligence. Why is that? Law was either a bumbler or a truly evil man through his willingness to cover up crimes. In either case, this does not translate to a promotion and featured role in the Vatican.

But I suppose you'll say, we can't judge him because Law has never been convicted of anything. Please hold your thought since the reason he can't even be charged is that he was removed from the scene of the crime to a 'state' that has no extradition treaty for this sort of thing.

Law is a disgrace, the entire handling of child molestation by our society (it is far, far bigger than the RCC to be sure) is a disgrace, and apologies for enablers are straight from Hell!

[Sandpiper]

38. Cardinal Law was a pedophile enabler

Who high-tailed it to Vatican City to avoid having his regal self prosecuted like a common criminal.

Whether he was a U.S. politician is beside the point. He was an accessory to serial child molestation, and that's criminal, whether you're Joe Sixpack or the Grand Poobah of the Archdiocese of Boston.

The idea that priests should be above the law of the land ended a long time ago.

[Bob3]

45. There is a huge difference between being forgiven

and being given a place of honor at the the Pope's Funeral. I'm speechless at the arrogance of this. If Law was truly remorseful he'd wouldn't be flashing his ugly mug all over the cameras.

As far as being a spiritual leader takes more than a title and a hat to be one - Law has failed miserably. And hey Dante put some popes in hell when he wrote inferno.

[arcos]

34. Vatican Gives Cardinal Law Role of Honor (disgusting!)

Vatican Gives Cardinal Law Role of Honor

VATICAN CITY - Cardinal Bernard Law, who resigned in disgrace as archbishop of Boston over his role in the clergy sex abuse crisis, has been given a role of honor in the mourning for Pope John Paul II.

The Vatican announced Thursday he will lead one of the daily Masses celebrated in the pope's memory during the nine-day period that follows the funeral, called Novemdiales. The service will be held Monday at Rome's St. Mary Major Basilica, where Law was appointed archpriest after leaving Boston.

Some Roman Catholics in his former archdiocese immediately protested.

Suzanne Morse, spokeswoman for Voice of the Faithful, a Massachusetts-based reform group that emerged from the scandal, said Law's visibility since the pope's death has been "extremely painful" both for abuse survivors and rank-and-file Catholics.

<snip>

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=518&u=/ap/20050407/ap_on_re_eu/pope_cardinal_law&printer=1

[TroglodyteScholar]

35. D U P E

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1376780&mesg_id=1376780

[autorank]

36. Those with eyes should see; those with ears should listen.

This is just stunning. Why on earth would this happen? :mad:

[deadparrot]

41. Again, this is why I turned away.

It's disgusting. Not only tolerating these sick SOBs who prey on children, but embracing them. It's happening on a smaller scale in my own diocese. It's gotten to the point where I can't even watch these sickos on TV anymore without getting physically ill.

:rant:

[Sandpiper]

42. It's the Catholic version of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Delivering a big, holy, FU to all of the victims of molestation by honoring a man who should have been prosecuted.

[Pirate Smile]

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

Cardinal Law, Ousted in U.S. Scandal, Is Given a Major Role in Rites for the Pope
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN

Published: April 8, 2005


OME, 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.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/08/international/worldspecial2/08cardinals.html

[MrSlayer]

47. That's great.

This guy should be fucking hanged and instead they're honoring him. What the fuck is wrong here?

[Pirate Smile]

48. They so don't get it that it is UNBELIEVABLE!

[Mend]

51. It is never about children or women...

it is about male domination.

[Journeyman]

49. And yet there are those who ask why I left the Church. . .

too much too

[paineinthearse]

50. The church wouldn't dare name Law as the next pope

....or would they?

[gtar100]

52. And the masses will turn a blind eye

This is utterly disgraceful and yet I doubt many Catholics will say anything about it. Guess they'd rather not think about it and keep their heads in the sand. How bad does it have to get before they can't ignore it anymore? Sick, sick, sick.

[Catt03]

53. Unbelievable

Those who are supporting this travesty, of Law presiding over the mass,
are perpetrators also.

This includes the pope if this was his directive.

As a Catholic, I'm appalled.

[dArKeR]

55. How can Michael Jackson be on trial but the Pope, Law and others

did not have justice served on them? They all knew about sexual encounters by priests with adults and children for 30 to 40 years.