Disgraced Ex-Boston Archbishop Cardinal Law Leaves Rome Job
BOSTON (CBS) - Church sex abuse victims say it's about time.
Cardinal Bernard Law, Boston's former archbishop, is leaving his job in Rome.
The Vatican says the Pope accepted Law's resignation from Saint Mary Major Basilica.
Nine years ago, Cardinal Law left the Boston diocese in disgrace amid accusations he protected priests he knew sexually abused children. Forever the face of the sex abuse scandal which rocked the Boston Archdiocese, in 2004 he was put in charge of a Roman Basilica. It was a move which angered many Catholics not only those connected to the scandal.
WBZ-TV's Joe Shortsleeve reports
Today the Vatican confirmed that the Pope had accepted Law's resignation as Arch Priest of that well known Basilica.
Boston College Professor Thomas Groome, author of "Will There Be Faith" found the announcement very curious.
"He is simply replaced. There is no expression of gratitude for work well done, now that may be the Roman way of doing things but I would suspect otherwise."
Now just recently Cardinal Law threw an 80th birthday party for himself. Professor Groome speculates that perhaps the party rubbed Vatican leadership the wrong way.
"Apparently it was pretty lavish and attracted a good deal of negative publicity especially here in the American media. Who knows… someone may have been unhappy with that."
Donna Doucette is the Executive Director of Voice of the Faithful, an organization of Catholics which grew out of the scandal. They continue to push for answers and transparency.
"For there not to be an announcement that we held a bishop accountable ….finally...is a disappointment."
The Boston Archdiocese had nothing to say about Law's resignation but instead referred us back to Rome.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports
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WBZ also spoke to attorney Mitchell Garabedian, the Boston attorney who represented many of the sexual abuse victims. He says he hopes Cardinal Law will now return to Boston to answer questions.
Cardinal Law still sits on as many seven Vatican committees one of which is in charge of selecting bishops.
