Metropolis Reality Forums - Priests Call for Law to Resign

Sponsored by: The Fans!

Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register.
Nov 23^rd, 2024, 9:43pm

Upcoming Premiere Dates:
Survivor 23, Season premiere
Thursday, September 14 (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT) on CBS

Metropolis Reality Forums Ť Priests Call for Law to Resign ť

   Metropolis Reality Forums
   Off-Topic Forums
   In the News (Moderators: lakelady, yesteach, MediaScribe, Bumper, Isle_be_back)
   Priests Call for Law to Resign

Previous topic | New Topic | Next topic »

Pages: 1

Add Poll

Notify of replies

Send Topic

Author

Topic: Priests Call for Law to Resign (Read 302 times)

Rhune
ForumsNet Administrator

Gender:

Posts: 292

Priests Call for Law to Resign
« on: Dec 12^th, 2002, 9:54am »

Quote

Modify

BOSTON (Reuters) - The Archdiocese of Boston was in a state of open rebellion on Tuesday after 58 priests took the unprecedented step of asking Cardinal Bernard Law to resign in a letter delivered to the senior U.S. prelate's residence.

"It's as close to an open revolt as priests can come," said Stephen Pope, chairman of the Theology Department at Boston College. "It's not that they're taking to the streets with torches, but this is something they never do."

The delivery of the letter marked the first time that a group of clergy had formally called for Law to step down following revelations that he and other church leaders shuttled priests accused of pedophilia from parish to parish.

One of the priests accused of some of the most shocking disclosures in the current crisis, the Rev. Paul Shanley, could be released on bail as early as Tuesday, law enforcement sources said. Shanley's lawyer was not immediately available for comment.

Shanley pleaded not guilty in June to charges he had raped and assaulted four young boys in the rectory and other parts of a Boston-area church during religious classes.

A former Boston archdiocese leader -- the Rev. Thomas Daily, now bishop of Brooklyn -- said in a sworn deposition earlier this year that the church knew Shanley had advocated sex between men and boys when it promoted him to lead a parish in 1983.

Long-simmering anger toward Law boiled over last week after archdiocese personnel files released by lawyers for Shanley's alleged victims yielded sordid tales of pedophilia, adultery and drug use by priests.

The documents revealed one priest was assigned to two parishes despite his record of molesting boys, another molested young girls while telling them he was the living embodiment of Jesus Christ and a third fathered two children and did not immediately call for help when their mother overdosed.

LETTER TO LAW

Priests who signed the letter confirmed a report in Tuesday's Boston Globe that their statement had been delivered to Law's residence on Monday evening. Archdiocese spokeswoman Donna Morrissey declined to comment, saying any communication between priests and the cardinal was private.

There are about 550 active diocesan priests serving in the archdiocese, another 300 retired priests and some 700 priests from religious orders, the newspaper said.

It was not known when Law would physically receive the letter because the cardinal was still in Rome, where he appeared over the weekend after slipping out of Boston.

The letter praised Law for his efforts to build closer ties with Jews and immigrants, and for his opposition to capital punishment.

"However," the letter said, "the events of recent months and, in particular, of the last few days, make it clear to us that your position as our bishop is so compromised that it is no longer possible for you to exercise the spiritual leadership required for the church of Boston."

The Rev. Richard McBrien, a theologian at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, said the 58 signatures on the letter were "just the tip of the iceberg," and that the Vatican (news - web sites) now knows Law has lost the confidence of the laity and many priests -- thus undermining his ability to lead.

Rome should have accepted Law's resignation when he first offered it earlier this year, he said, but it doesn't like to respond to pressure.

"Even if some (in the Vatican) still think it's an American crisis generated by the media, those with more savvy know that it's a serious crisis indeed," McBrien said. "Now it's at the point where it has gone too far and they have to resolve this."

But the Rev. Andrew Greeley, a priest, author and sociologist, questioned whether the letter would make any waves in Rome.

"It will only take one priest to get Cardinal Law's resignation, and that's the Pope," Greeley said.

Church sources told Reuters on Monday the Vatican may take the unusual step of naming a successor to Law even if he does not resign in a bid to defuse the crisis that has engulfed the archdiocese since January.

There was also talk that the cardinal may ask Vatican leaders for permission to file for bankruptcy protection as a way of dealing with the estimated 450 clergy sexual abuse lawsuits it faces.

IP Logged

Rhune
ForumsNet Administrator

Gender:

Posts: 292

Re: Priests Call for Law to Resign
« Reply #1 on: Dec 13^th, 2002, 9:19am »

Quote

Modify

http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/12/13/law.resigns/index.html

Pope accepts Law's resignation
'I both apologize and ... beg forgiveness'
Friday, December 13, 2002 Posted: 9:50 AM EST (1450 GMT)

There had been growing pressure on Law to resign.

VATICAN CITY (CNN) -- Pope John Paul II on Friday accepted the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law as archbishop of the scandal-plagued Boston, Massachusetts, archdiocese.

The Most Rev. Richard Gerard Lennon, auxiliary bishop in the archdiocese, was appointed by the pope to take over interim duties in the archdiocese. He is 55 and became an ordained bishop in September 2001. The pope is expected to appoint a permanent replacement later.

The Vatican announcement comes after months of pressure for the cardinal to resign in the wake of accusations that priests had sexually abused children -- and allegations that Law did not take strong action to deal with the problem.

The pope was described by a Vatican official as being "deeply saddened" by the whole affair, The Associated Press reported.

On Thursday, Massachusetts' attorney general told reporters that the Boston archdiocese engaged in "an elaborate scheme" to keep the issue quiet.

Last week, the Boston archdiocese released extensive documents detailing startling examples of clergy sexual misconduct related to claims priests molested children.

In addition, the archdiocese Finance Council authorized Law to seek bankruptcy protection for the archdiocese, which faces an estimated 450 claims from alleged abuse victims.

Law remains a cardinal
Law on Friday issued an apology, in which he said he hopes the move will help bring about "healing, reconciliation and unity."

"To all those who have suffered from my shortcomings and mistakes I both apologize and from them beg forgiveness. To the bishops, priests, deacons, religious and laity, with whom I have been privileged to work in our efforts to fulfill the church's mission, I express my deep gratitude," in a written statement issued by Law. (Full statement)

At a news conference in Boston Friday morning, the Rev. Christopher Coyne of the Boston archdiocese said Law will remain a cardinal attached to a church, but will most likely be in retirement status. Law has no more authority to govern the archdiocese by virtue of his resignation, he said.

Donna Morrissey, archdiocese spokeswoman also at the news conference, that she spoke to Law Friday.

"He is doing well considering the circumstances," Morrissey said, who said the cardinal had a "heavy burden on his shoulders."

Asked about Law's legacy, Morrissey said in light of the fractiousness and pain how the resignation would affect his "legacy" is virtually the last thing the archdiocese is pondering.

She said Law congratulates Lennon and will assist him in whatever way possible. Law will be returning to the United States from Rome sometime this weekend, she said.

Both Morrissey and Coyne stressed that the archdiocese is trying to cope with the main problem dogging Boston and other archdioceses -- what Coyne says is "the monumental tragedy of abuse by children" by priests.

"We are going to continue in our efforts to implement comprehensive policies and education programs and outreach to victim survivors to make sure that we don't find ourselves in the situation again and that we can do whatever means possible to help in the healing process for the victims, survivors and their families," Morrissey said.

James Post -- president of the Catholic reform lay group Voice of the Faithful -- said, "This is a sad day for the Catholic church and it's a sad day for the archdiocese of Boston. I think we have to say this is a sad but necessary act," said Post, who said the cardinal's presence had been "very divisive."

Post said there is a "ray of hope" in the development, that new leadership "offers the opportunity to bring people together."

Ann Webb, speaking for a sex abuse victims' group called SNAP, called the development a "positive step," saying Law was a "lightning rod" for what has gone wrong with the church. She said she was pleased that Law had the courage to step down but was culpable just the same.

'Perhaps for generations'

Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly alleged that the diocese schemed to keep the abuse quiet, adding that the problem goes back "decades, and perhaps for generations."

On Monday, 58 priests signed a letter asking Law to resign from the post. A Catholic reform lay group, Voice of the Faithful, had called Wednesday for Law's resignation. (Full story)

Law also stepped down this week as chairman of the Catholic University of America board of trustees. (Full story)

CNN Correspondent Bill Delaney and journalists Delia Gallagher and John Allen contributed to this report.

IP Logged

Pages: 1

Add Poll

Notify of replies

Send Topic


Previous topic \| New Topic \| Next topic »