BishopAccountability.org
 
  Disgraced Cardinal Law "Retires" but Still Has Massive Power

By Barbara Dorris
SNAP
November 21, 2011

http://www.snapnetwork.org/disgraced_cardinal_law_still_picks_bishops

While Cardinal Bernard Law has been replaced as head of one of Rome’s most prestigious churches, the AP reports that he “remains a member of a half-dozen important Vatican congregations, including the office that helps the pope select bishops.”

So a full ten years after his repeated deceit, callousness and reckless was laid bare, Law is still honored and influential with the church hierarchy. Can there be a clearer sign that top Catholic officials just don’t care about suffering adults and vulnerable kids? Can you name or even imagine another institution where a similar scheming CEO would be afforded such power and prestige?

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: When wrongdoing is rewarded, wrongdoing will be repeated. That’s one key reason why there’s been so very little reform within the church on child sex abuse and cover up. Those who ignore and conceal heinous crimes keep climbing the church’s corporate ladder.

(Earlier this year, Pope Benedict tapped now-disgraced Philadelphia Cardinal Justin Rigali to represent him at a celebration in Eastern Europe. In 2009, the pontiff promoted Bishop Joseph Cistone of Philadelphia, despite his having been exposed as corrupt in a Philadelphia grand jury. We could cite dozens of other examples.)

When the Penn State scandal erupted, several university officials were ousted within days. When the Boston archdiocese scandal erupted, Law clung to his post for almost a year, was essentially promoted, and now, a decade later, still wields considerable power, while living in the literal and figurative power center of Catholicism.

 
 

Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.