 |
|
||
|
|
||||||
|
|||||||
|
[an error occurred while processing this directive] | | |
Law offered resignation in Rome, but was encouraged to stay put By Greg Sukiennik, Associated Press, 04/16/02
BOSTON -- Cardinal Bernard Law said Tuesday that he met with Pope John Paul II, raised the possibility of resigning, but came away determined to clean up the sexual abuse scandal in his archdiocese. Law, in a prepared statement, said he's been in Rome recently and met with Vatican officials, including the pope. "For the past few days I have been in Rome to seek counsel and advice," Law said. "The focus of my meetings was the impact of the (Rev. Paul) Shanley and other sexual abuse cases upon public opinion in general and specifically upon the members of the archdiocese," he said. "The fact that my resignation has been proposed as necessary was part of my presentation," he continued. Law said he came away encouraged. "As a result of my stay in Rome, I return home encouraged in my efforts to provide the strongest possible leadership in ensuring, as far as is humanly possible, that no child is ever abused again by a priest of this Archdiocese," he said. A week ago, court documents were released showing Law knew of sex abuse allegations against Shanley, yet allowed him to continue as a parish priest. Law said it is his intent to address the archdiocese's handling of sexual abuse by reviewing the past comprehensively, so that questions about the past could be answered. He said the diocesean television station and its newspaper would assist in making that record available. That irked attorney Roderick MacLeish, the attorney for Gregory Ford, an alleged victim of Shanley who came forward two weeks ago as the documents were made public. "It is not for me to decide whether Cardinal Law should return from Rome to face the anger in this community," he said. "But I do say this: the idea that the story of Paul Shanley will be told through media controlled by the Archdiocese of Boston is quite frankly incomprehensible and pathetic. "The truth is going to be culled through the criminal and civil justice system," he continued. It was not clear if Law was in Boston or Rome on Tuesday night. Archdiocese spokeswoman Donna Morrissey, who released Law's statement to the media, said she did not know Law's whereabouts. Law is expected to attend meetings in Rome next week between the pope and eight American cardinals to discuss the sex abuse scandals in the United States. Boston College church historian Thomas O'Connor said Law's statement seemed to indicate Law wanted to make the situation in Boston clear to the pope and the Vatican, and that the Vatican had no intention of honoring a bid by Law to resign. "My sense is he was told 'of course not, please go back and work harder,"' O'Connor said. "This helps to reinforce the decision he made Friday, so he can say in effect, 'This is not only my feeling but I do (this) with the spirit of the pope behind me."' Law broke custom by not giving Mass at Holy Cross Cathedral on Sunday, canceled Thursday's meeting of vicars, and had not publicly commented on the Vatican's extraordinary call for a meeting. The archdiocese said after Law's letter to priests was issued that Law would remain in seclusion and meet privately with advisers for several days. Russell Shaw, a former spokesman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Columbus, saw Law's convocation to the Vatican, with 12 other U.S. cardinals, as a show of support. "I think the pope wants it to be known that he backs Cardinal Law and he wants it also to be known that the cardinal's colleagues in the American hierarchy do as well," Shaw said. © Copyright 2002 Boston Globe Electronic Publishing Inc. | Advertise | Contact us | Privacy policy | |
|
|
Photos: 
If you have information on child abuse by priests, call