Disgraced Cardinal Law "retires" but still has massive power
While Cardinal Bernard Law has been replaced as head of one of Rome’s most prestigious churches, the AP reports that he “remains a member of a half-dozen important Vatican congregations, including the office that helps the pope select bishops.”
So a full ten years after his repeated deceit, callousness and reckless was laid bare, Law is still honored and influential with the church hierarchy. Can there be a clearer sign that top Catholic officials just don’t care about suffering adults and vulnerable kids? Can you name or even imagine another institution where a similar scheming CEO would be afforded such power and prestige?
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: When wrongdoing is rewarded, wrongdoing will be repeated. That’s one key reason why there’s been so very little reform within the church on child sex abuse and cover up. Those who ignore and conceal heinous crimes keep climbing the church’s corporate ladder.
(Earlier this year, Pope Benedict tapped now-disgraced Philadelphia Cardinal Justin Rigali to represent him at a celebration in Eastern Europe. In 2009, the pontiff promoted Bishop Joseph Cistone of Philadelphia, despite his having been exposed as corrupt in a Philadelphia grand jury. We could cite dozens of other examples.)
When the Penn State scandal erupted, several university officials were ousted within days. When the Boston archdiocese scandal erupted, Law clung to his post for almost a year, was essentially promoted, and now, a decade later, still wields considerable power, while living in the literal and figurative power center of Catholicism.
Read more: http://www.news957.com/news/world/article/301515--boston-s-cardinal-law-who-was-disgraced-after-sex-abuse-scandal-resigns-from-rome-job
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
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Showing 4 comments
Much of the media reporting was not accurate. The Vatican in fact made no mention at all of Law’s departure, which is strange in itself. The Vatican only reported the name of Law’s replacement. Most of the media reported wrongly that Law had resigned, when what happened was he hadn’t been allowed to remain in post past 80 as often happens, but was instead replaced.
http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=867
Too late the Vatican washes it’s hands of Law.
Wikipedia tells us “Law reached age 80 on November 4, 2011 and lost the right to participate in any papal conclave and on the same day he ceased to hold his various Curial memberships.” [i.e. including his Curial congregation role in bishops’ appointments]
This is confirmed by this:
“Under the terms of Ingravescentem Aetatem, promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1971, when a cardinal reaches the age of 80 he becomes ineligible to participate in a papal conclave, or to sit on a Roman congregation.”
http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=865