Pope Francis Meets US Cardinal Who Quit over Abuse Cover-up Claims

Telegraph
March 16, 2013

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9933874/Pope-Francis-meets-US-Cardinal-who-quit-over-abuse-cover-up-claims.html

During his unscheduled visit to a basilica in Rome Pope Francis briefly greeted Cardinal Bernard Law, right Photo: Reuters/AP

During his unscheduled visit to a basilica in Rome hours after becoming Pope, he briefly greeted Cardinal Bernard Law.

Cardinal Law resigned as Archbishop of Boston 10 years ago, after issuing a statement begging forgiveness, and left America after being accused in scores of law suits of failing to protect children.

His former archdiocese has paid out more than $100 million to settle as many as 750 suits.

The Cardinal took up residence in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, a major place of pilgrimage. As the papal basilica in Rome, it was where Pope Francis went to pray on Thursday, the morning after his election.

The Vatican confirmed that he had "discreetly" met the Cardinal, but campaigners for the abuse victims described the fact that the meeting happened as "rubbing salt into still festering wounds".

David Clohessy, based in Rome for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said: "Tragically, it took Pope Francis only a matter of hours before he dashed the hopes of abuse survivors by visiting the most discredited US prelate, Cardinal Bernard Law."

He added: "He must have known the hurt that he would cause to already wounded victims and still disillusioned Catholics by this insensitive act."