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Bernard Cardinal LawBernard Cardinal Law, born Bernard Francis Law (born November 4, 1931 in Torren, Mexico) is a priest of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States and created a cardinal in consistory by Pope John Paul II. He is currently the archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major and a member of the Roman Curia that governs the universal church. In 1984, Cardinal Law was appointed Archbishop of Boston, prelate bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston. On May 25, 1985, he was elevated in consistory as a member of the College of Cardinals. After his resignation as Archbishop of Boston on December 13, 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed Cardinal Law to several authoritative positions in Rome and the Vatican City. Sex scandal Cardinal Law's reign as Archbishop of Boston began in popularity but quickly declined into turbulence towards the end of his term. Allegations and reports of sexual misconduct by priests of the Archdiocese of Boston became widespread causing Roman Catholics in other dioceses of the United States to investigate similar situations there. Cardinal Law's actions and inactions prompted public scrutiny of all members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the steps they've taken in response to past and current allegations of sexual misconduct at the hands of priests. The events in the Archdiocese of Boston exploded into a national Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal. Grassroots public advocacy groups like Voice of the Faithful hounded Cardinal Law after documents revealed his extensive role in covering up incidents of sexual misconduct of his priests. In one case, Cardinal Law moved Father Paul Shanley from parish to parish despite repeated allegations of molestation of children under the priest's care. Later, it was discovered that Father Shanley even advocated the North American Man-Boy Love Association. In his own defense, Cardinal Law claimed he made the mistake of not keeping proper records. As a result of the widespread sex scandal, the Archdiocese of Boston lost millions of dollars in fines and settlements. It also funded the legal defense of accused priests. Devout members of the Roman Catholic Church refrained from making new donations and the archdiocese slipped into large financial deficits. It was forced to close 65 parishes before Cardinal Law stepped down from service. Roman curia Prompted by public calls, Cardinal Law resigned as Archbishop of Boston, despite the support of Pope John Paul II of his pastoral work. The pope reassigned Cardinal Law to several administrative posts of the Roman Curia and consecrated him as archpriest of one of the most important basilicas of the Roman Catholic Church. Resources Law, Bernard Law, Bernard Law, Bernard
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