April 12, 2005

American cardinal's Mass for pope touches a nerve

VATICAN CITY
Kansas City Star

VATICAN CITY — The outcry over clergy sex abuse intruded on the mourning for Pope John Paul II on Monday. All but one U.S.-based cardinal avoided a Mass led by Boston's former archbishop.

Cardinal Bernard Law's role in the Mass infuriated sexual-abuse victims in the United States and prompted two of them to stage a brief protest Monday in St. Peter's Square.

Justin Rigali of Philadelphia was the only U.S. resident cardinal present at the Mass with Law.

Most cardinals from other countries also skipped the Mass on a rainy afternoon, but their motives were unknown.

Posted by kshaw at April 12, 2005 07:47 AM