The Cardinal's Fall: Bernard Law and the Boston Scandal
Cardinal Bernard Francis Law (1931–2017) was the Archbishop of Boston from 1984 to 2002.Initially a highly influential figure in the U.S. Catholic hierarchy, known for his work in civil rights and ecumenism, his legacy was irrevocably shattered by the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal in his archdiocese.
The Boston Globe's Exposure
The collapse of Cardinal Law's authority began in January 2002 with the investigative reporting of the Boston Globe's "Spotlight" team.The team's extensive reporting revealed that Law and other Boston officials had systematically ignored or concealed widespread cases of child sexual abuse committed by priests, most notably Father John Geoghan, who was accused of molesting over 130 children.
Instead of reporting the crimes to civil authorities, Law's archdiocese had a pattern of simply moving abusive priests from one parish to another, often with full knowledge of their offenses, thus allowing the abuse to continue. Court-ordered releases of archdiocesan files proved Law's knowledge and involvement in the cover-up. The Globe's exposé, which earned a Pulitzer Prize and was later the basis for the film Spotlight, made Law the public face of the church's global clerical abuse crisis.Facing immense public outrage and calls for his resignation from priests and parishioners, Law stepped down in December 2002.
Later Career in the Vatican
Just two years after his disgraced resignation from Boston, the Vatican controversially appointed Cardinal Law to a new post in Rome.In 2004, Pope John Paul II named him Archpriest of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome's four principal basilicas.
This appointment was widely seen by victims' advocates and critics as a sign that the Church was prioritizing the protection of its senior leaders over acknowledging the gravity of the abuse scandal. Law enjoyed a quiet retirement in Rome, retaining his active cardinal status, which allowed him to participate in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.He resigned from the basilica post upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 80 in 2011 and died in Rome in 2017.His final career in the Vatican remained a source of deep pain and outrage for survivors who felt the Church never held him truly accountable for his actions in Boston.
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