LOUISIANA
The Advocate
By BARBARA SCHLICHTMAN
bschlichtman@theadvocate.com
Advocate religion and youth editor
A Vatican announcement that Cardinal Bernard Law will preside over a funeral Mass for Pope John Paul II was insensitive and a move that would re-traumatize victims of sexual abuse, victims' advocates said.
Law was forced to resign in 2002 as the archbishop of Boston amid accusations that he covered up priests' sexual abuse of children. He will celebrate a Mass on Monday, one of eight that begin today honoring the pope.
After Law's resignation, he received an honorary post in Rome as archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
"The concelebration will be presided by Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, archbishop emeritus of Boston and archpriest of the Patriarchal Basilica of St. Mary Major," the statement says.
The announcement caused victims additional pain, said Michael Kuczynski, spokesman for the Louisiana chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
Posted by kshaw at April 9, 2005 09:50 AM