June 21, 2007 -- I now reprise an old news story. There's a point. So, read on and pay attention. Five years ago a widening scandal - 450 claims of priests accused of sexually abusing children - caused Boston Catholics to nearly drop their prayer books. Allegations were the reigning cardinal took no action to stop the abuse. Massachusetts' attorney general claimed the archdiocese engaged in "an elaborate scheme" to stifle the issue. Of this reigning cardinal, CNN reported Dec. 13, 2002, that one victim said: "I'm speechless. He's hurt a lot of people. He's deceived a lot of people." Despite repeat stories of sexual misconduct by clergy to youngsters over decades, it took months of pressure before His Eminence resigned.
Pope John Paul II, described as "deeply saddened," accepted the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law. Vatican sources stated Cardinal Law's future, due to this "monumental tragedy of abuse of children by priests," is he "will most likely be in retirement status."
Well, he's not. He's living in The Vatican. His own apartment inside the hallowed halls. His position is that of adviser to the pope. Sort of a papal consigliere. Those who just saw him and actually spoke with him say they summoned the nerve to mention the subject of his Boston diocese. They say he put his head in his hands. He would not comment.