BishopAccountability.org
	Law Is the Wrong Choice The Tufts Daily [Medford MA] April 11, 2005 The Vatican's choice to have Cardinal Bernard Law perform one of nine memorial Masses for the late Pope John Paul II once again illustrates the Church's continued position of ignoring the sex-abuse scandal that has torn apart the Roman Catholic church in the United States. Cardinal Law is among the highest ranked clergy in the Church, but there are better candidates that could have performed these prestigious Masses instead of the cardinal most associated with the sex-abuse scandal. Vatican officials point out that Law is in charge of St. Mary Major in Rome, one of four parishes under direct Vatican control. The Vatican could have acknowledged that Law symbolizes the frustration and disgust of the scandal to many American Catholics. In 2002, Law resigned as Archbishop of Boston after it was revealed that he allowed priests guilty of sexually abusing children to remain in the archdiocese, moving them to different parishes without notifying the public of their crimes. Law was not charged with any criminal offenses and was not forced to resign his position as cardinal. Instead, the Vatican called him to Rome and placed him in charge of St. Mary Major. Law's appointment to the memorial Mass pours salt in the still-open wounds of American Catholics who are reeling from the sex abuse scandal. These nine memorial Masses will garner much attention from the media, who will obsess over the homilies, trying to determine how the cardinal will vote. The last thing American Catholics want to see on their television screens is the man who they consider to have hidden the sexual abuses of priests. Once again the Vatican has ignored the sentiments of millions of American Catholics. Pope John Paul II's treatment of the sex abuse scandal, which was largely one of indifference, was a source of conflict for many American Catholics. Clearly, the Pope's opinions extended throughout the Vatican, and it is unlikely that there will be any change in policy soon. This does not bode well for the Church, who is trying to prove wrong the critics who call it out of touch. Ideally, the Church will aim for the next Pope to continue Pope John Paul II's most popular policies, such as traveling and attracting youth to the church. The next pontiff, however, must confront the issue of sex abuse in churches, especially now that allegations have spread from the United States and into Australia and Western Europe. The Vatican must recognize this problem and defrock any priest found guilty of abuse or hiding abuse. It can start by not hiding officials, like Cardinal Law, in posts in Rome after they have been found to cover up past abuses. Some of these posts, particularly those at a large church like St. Mary Major, could still allow them to participate in prestigious ceremonies that demand media attention. Aggressive action will be the only way to solve this problem and prove that the Church will not tolerate sexual abusers within the clergy.