Who is cardinal law

Revelations in the Boston Globe newspaper led to the uncovering of widespread child abuse by Catholic clergy within his diocese. Cardinal Law never faced criminal charges for his role in allowing priests accused of abusing children to remain in the church and his appointment as archpriest of the Papal Liberian Basilica of St Mary Major, effectively a second career, was perceived as adding insult to the injuries inflicted on children.

Key dates:. The investigation carried out by the Boston Globe's Spotlight team led to reports that dozens of priests who sexually abused children had been moved from parish to parish for years under Cardinal Law's tenure without informing parishioners or police. At the time, the Church was politically powerful in Boston and the cover-up of sexual abuse by more than 70 priests in the Boston area was seen as a move aimed at protecting the institution's reputation.

However the damning reports published by the Globe resulted not only in the resignation of Cardinal Law, but the uncovering of further abuse in cities in the US and dioceses worldwide. The story of the Spotlight investigation, which involved a team of four reporters, was immortalised in the film Spotlight, which won the Oscar for Best Picture in Spotlight on Spotlight. Disgraced US cardinal leaves job. The story of the abuse uncovered in the film Spotlight - it really happened.

Image source, Getty Images. He publicly challenged public officials such as Gov. William Weld and Lt. Paul Cellucci over their support for abortion rights.

The cardinal was among a chorus of bishops sharply critical of Geraldine Ferraro, the Democratic nominee for vice president and a Catholic over her support for abortion rights. Under President George W. Bush, Law was a regular visitor to the White House. Within the church, he was devoted to building Catholic-Jewish relations, including leading a delegation of Jewish and other Massachusetts leaders in a visit to the Auschwitz death camp in Poland.

He worked closely with church leaders in Latin America, acting as an unofficial envoy of the pope to Cuba and revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. In the notorious case that started the crisis, as recounted in the movie Spotlight , the Globe reported that Law and two of his predecessors as Boston archbishop had transferred former priest John Geoghan among parish assignments despite knowing he molested children.

More than people eventually came forward to say Geoghan abused them. It was nowhere near enough to ease the growing anger. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. December 20, am. Related Stories. Read More About: Obituaries.

Last September, Francis, addressing the commission, said the Catholic Church had moved too slowly to confront abuse. I am aware of this difficulty but it is reality and I say it plainly: We arrived late. Bernard Francis Law was born on Nov.

Army official and a musician. He graduated from Harvard University and was ordained a priest in His first assignment was in Mississippi, where he received death threats for championing civil rights. As bishop of Springfield—Cape Girardeau in Missouri, he opened a home for battered women and a center to help Vietnamese boat people. The Mass will be said by a senior cardinal and the pope will participate in the final blessing, a normal procedure for cardinals.

Europe News Updated.