Cardinal Law Adviser to Pope, by Cindy Adams, New York Post [Rome], June 21, 2007

Cardinal Law Adviser to Pope

By Cindy Adams
New York Post [Rome]
June 21, 2007

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06212007/gossip/cindy/cardinal_law_adviser_to_pope_cindy_cindy_adams.htm

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.

KATE MIDDLETON
Not accepting money to talk to the press.

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.

THIS interview with William and Harry, the princes, grabbed great TV ratings. Tabloids now want to cash in by getting HRH William's ex g.f. Kate Middleton to talk. She's been offered 1 mil. Whether that's pounds or dollars, I don't know. We're talking serious money, even if it's in krone. She's refusing. Friends hope they'll reunite. She hopes they'll reunite. I mean, if Camilla can wait a lifetime, she can cool it a little. Meanwhile, although the palace is nervous, fearful she'll tell on him, she's playing it smart. Not upsetting them. Not upsetting anybody. Being quiet. Not letting the palace draw any lines in the sand.

LISTEN, the Bloomberg thing. The powerful around him have friends. Those friends in many cases are my friends. Friends, to make themselves powerful, talk. It's not that I'm any savant. It's that I hear things. Long long looooonggg back I told you this Democrat turned Republican-to-go-for-mayor would become an Independent. I already told you. The routine is exactly how he handled the mayoralty race. Took me to lunch then at East 58th's Italian eatery Paper Moon. Over a bowl of soup, he told me no-no-no - it's very flattering - but no-no-no. However, the way he said it I knew it was yes-yes-yes, and I so reported it that way that day. Look up the clips. I was first to say he's definitely hustling for mayor. Meantime he was still testing the city hall waters until it became sure-sure-sure. Now comes his same shtick all over again. Power is addictive. It's a drug.

HOUSE & Garden asking "quintessential New Yorkers" like Bloomy, Jay Mc-Inerney, me and my dogs, to sit in Crate & Barrel's Mad Ave. window from 8:05 to 8:30 a.m. Mon., Oct. 15. Why I don't know. Something about Design Week... . Enough with those Jenny Craig commercials. Let Victoria Principal just put on a pair of jeans that say, "One size fits Romania," and leave us all alone ... Jamie Lee Curtis: "I am quite chaste for a person who dances around in underwear in films." ... Sunday, 9 p.m., MSG Network, "Mecca of Boxing" documentary. Host Joe Frazier burbles about March 8, 1971's Madison Square Garden "Fight of the Century" when he defeated Muhammad Ali and Sinatra photographed it from ringside for Life mag ... Having finally wed his longtime lady, Rod Stewart has one other plan. To celebrate his model railway. He's an electric train fan. One room's actually stuffed with a miniature of our Grand Central Station.

SHIRLEY MacLaine, whose hello to strangers is probably, "Allow me to introduce myselves," has knocked off another book. Out in November, this one puts the kibosh on aging.

Aging is suddenly everybody's new fight. August's More magazine has Reagan daughter Patti Davis relating her experience of dating a guy who told her once too often that: "You look good for your age."

Patti asks: "When is a compliment really an insult? ... Acting as if it's a compliment assumes the woman is stupid. The 'for your age' is the zinger. As if age were an affliction. It's like saying, 'You run really fast for someone with clubfeet.' "

A BEVERLY HILLS school production of "Annie." The average age of the participants was 6 years old. Some were 5. And what was on their schedule following the performance? A wrap party. OK?