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	For Embattled Pope, Law's Lessons Offer a Prayer By Ken Bode Indianapolis Star April 2, 2010 http://www.indystar.com/article/20100402/OPINION12/4020315/1002/OPINION/For-embattled-pope-Law-s-lessons-offer-a-prayer In his Palm Sunday message, Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the young and those charged with protecting them. He also cautioned his worldwide flock "not to be intimidated by the gossip of dominant opinion." With those words -- referring to the priestly sexual abuse scandal exploding once again in America and in several countries of Europe -- the pope signaled that he is sticking to the policies the Vatican has followed for two decades: Admit nothing, cover up all you can and pay off victims only when you must. Oh, yes, and duck responsibility at all costs. Now, without admitting papal culpability, the Vatican is fighting an American lawsuit with the claim that the Vatican has sovereign immunity, the Holy Father is a head of state and the bishops actually don't work for the pope. My first brush with the high Catholic orders came in 1984 when Bernard Francis Law was enthroned as archbishop of Boston. Stemming from his courageous ministry in the South during the civil rights struggles, Cardinal Law arrived on a wave of positive feelings. He was handsome, charismatic and media-savvy to the point that some speculated he might become the first American pope. NBC News sent me to interview Law for a two-part profile on "Today." The idea was to do a friendly, introductory profile of the man chosen to head the church in one of America's most devoutly Catholic cities. Since 1984 was a presidential campaign year with a pro-choice Catholic, Geraldine Ferraro, on the Democratic ticket, we discussed abortion. Another issue roiling the church at that time was the subservient role of women. Why couldn't they be allowed greater equality, to be priests and say Mass? Why, when the solemn procession of clergy marches through St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday in vestments of red, white and pink can there be no women? I write about Cardinal Law because in the sexual abuse problems the church faces today, the policies dictated by the Vatican are those originally applied in Boston. As revelations of sexual misconduct by priests spread to other dioceses around the country, Boston remained the epicenter. Investigations revealed Cardinal Law's involvement in covering up sexual molestation by priests, and in moving known pederasts from parish to parish despite repeated allegations of sexual abuse. Documents revealed thousands of children and countless numbers of priests were involved in incidents that Law resolved to keep secret. Facing outrage among Boston parents and parishioners, Law was ultimately forced to resign. But his policies of canonical secrecy -- hiding the results of the church's official inquiries -- left behind an untold number of pederast priests, known child molesters, who are still active and practicing clerics. Law's policies also caused the Boston Archdiocese to pay millions in lawsuits and settlements and to close 65 parishes. The Vatican gave Cardinal Law a golden parachute. He was whisked off to Rome to become archpriest in charge of the Basilica di Santa Maria Magiore, retaining his stature as cardinal and giving him a vote in the conclave to select the next pope. So, in this Easter season, as Catholic abuse scandals explode in Ireland, Switzerland, Australia, Austria, Canada, Brazil and Pope Benedict's motherland, Germany, Cardinal Law comes to mind. Why? Because just as Law was allowed to engineer the cover-up in Boston, the Holy See seems determined to follow similar policies today. This will be the greatest challenge of Benedict's papacy. Munich, where he served as the archbishop, is now beset with 250 cases of abuse involving 14 priests, with more likely to come. The Vatican denies Benedict has any responsibility in the unfolding scandal, but there is an emerging evidentiary trail indicating his role in shielding a notorious abuser. Pope Benedict may be setting himself up to learn the hard lesson that the cover-up is often worse than the crime. Bode is the former national political correspondent for NBC News and a former political analyst for CNN. Contact him at bode.ken@gmail.com
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