Cardinal Law has Died

Last updated on: December 20, 2017 at 12:04 pm by Mary Pezzulo

Cardinal Law has Died 2017-12-20T12:04:52-04:00 Mary Pezzulo

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

religion-1647975_640

It’s just now being reported that Cardinal Bernard Law has passed away.

Law was pressured to resign from his position as the archbishop of Boston in 2002 when his horrendous mishandling of multiple cases of pedophilia in the diocese was made public. Law repeatedly moved a pedophile priest to different assignments instead of notifying the authorities; the priest was later convicted of molesting more than 130 children. Law apologized, but words are cheap. He fled to the Vatican and was assigned to a nominal position at St. Mary Major. Different accounts interpreted this as either a punishment for or an endorsement of the scandalous actions that lead to his retirement. It was perhaps a sign of Vatican uncertainty as to what to do with a Cardinal who had facilitated unspeakable harm without technically violating cannon or civil law. I would not be the first to suggest voluntary retirement to monastic obscurity would have been more appropriate.

There is nothing kind I can say about his actions. The sexual abuse of children is a crime too despicable for words. It cannot be tolerated, let alone covered up multiple times and allowed to happen again and again.

But Cardinal Law has now gone before the Just Judge who shall not be mocked. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, we beg mercy on him and consolation for his friends. We beg mercy and the grace of repentance for anyone responsible for the abuse of innocents in any capacity. We beg the grace of healing for the scores of children who were abused under Law’s watch, and for the families and loved ones who suffered with them. We pray for safety and protection for all of those vulnerable to sexual assault. We also pray for those hundreds of people who were, understandably, driven away from the Church by his terrible witness.

May God have mercy on his soul and grant him eternal memory.

(image via Pixabay)

Previous Post

December 18, 2017

The Seventh Sorrow of Mary: Christ is Laid in the Tomb

Next Post

December 20, 2017 Biscuits, Guns and a Discount Turkey Sandwich

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category abortion Abuse Advent America American Christianity angel angels Annunciation Appalachia apparition apparition chaser apparition chasers apparition culture art art review babies baby baby Jesus Bad Lip Reading bad statue contest bath beauty Bible story blog blogkeeping blood book review Brandon Sanderson breastfeeding bus Catholic catholic conspiracy alarmism Catholic Oppositional Disorder Charismatic Renewal Charlie the Cat chastity Christ Christian idenitity Christianity and Judaism Chronic Illness clean clothing COD piece comedy compassion conscience conspiracy theory conversion cop-on-black violence Crucifixion cry of the poor culture Daesh Daily Saints death death penalty devotional diaconate diaper diapers dirty disability Donald Trump Dorothy Day dream drugs Eastern Catholicism Eastern Christianity education election election update Elsewhere on Patheos empathy environment Fear feminism film review fish flashback fluffy buns food Franciscan University of Steubenville Friendship Room fun Gabriel gardening gospel hair-splitting Heaven hell heresy Hillary Clinton history Holly the Witch Holy Spirit holy war Homeschooling homosexuality horror human dignity humor Icon idol immigrants infection inter-religious dialogue Interpretation of Scripture Islam Jesus Jihad Joseph joy laity and lay vocations lamb dinner laundry lent lgbtq literature love manners Mary Medicine and Science Meditation mercy mess milk misogyny Missouri monasticism monster motherhood mourn with those mourn movies movis music mystery nature neurodiversity New Pro-Life Movement news nonsense nostalgia O antiphons obituary objectification Ohio Valley Ordinary Time ordination Ordo Amoris parable paradox Passover peanut butter personal beliefs pets philosophy Planet Charismatic poetry politics polls poop Pope Francis Pope Leo power in the Church prayer prayer request prayers preferential option for non-violence president presidential election priest primary private revelation pro-life prophecy Public face of Catholicism Pure Flix Q and A race racism random rape rape. sexuality reader's request Reckoners refugee religious trauma ressurrection Right to life Saints saints and celebrations same-sex same-sex marriage satire scandal secular feasts seder Seven Joys Seven Last Words sex sexual ethics sexuality silencing six months skid row slavery social justice Speculative fiction spiritual abuse spoon stain story suffering suffrage suffragette Sunday Gospel temple Tenebrae Responsories Terror the exorcist The Friendship Room The New Pro-Life Movement Things I Learned on the Internet tin cup traffic true story tv review Uncategorized USCCB vice and temptation violence Virtue virtue and vice war Way of the Cross whimsy whole life women's ordination work of mercy Year A

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Eli" mean in Hebrew?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Lord saves Strength in God Holy one My God