VOA News

The Boston Herald newspaper says embattled Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Bernard Law, is likely to be re-assigned to the Vatican by the beginning of June. Citing church officials, the paper says the archbishop will be moved to Rome before his scheduled deposition in a legal suit against the archdiocese. 

Cardinal Law has faced public pressure to resign for knowingly moving pedophile priests from parish to parish in the face of child abuse allegations. 

The archbishop is among a group of top leaders of the U.S. Roman Catholic Church just back from a historic meeting with Pope John Paul II in Rome to discuss the sexual abuse crisis. 

Before leaving Rome, the Boston cardinal said the issue of his resignation "never came up" during the Vatican meeting. Child abuse revelations from around the nation have resulted in the resignation of one bishop and the removal of dozens of priests from active ministry. The U.S. Catholic church also has faced several lawsuits and paid out millions of dollars to victims of abuse by priests. Returning U.S. cardinals appear divided on a nationwide policy to deal with pedophile priests. 

At least two cardinals, Theodore McCarrick of Washington and Roger Mahony of Los Angeles believe the pope expressed "zero tolerance" for anyone who would harm the young, meaning a single instance of abuse would be grounds for dismissal. 

But others, like Cardinals Edward Egan of New York and Francis George of Chicago say they would recommend a process to defrock any priest who has become "notorious" for the serial, sexual abuse of minors. The cardinals will be under pressure to come up with specific proposals at the bishop's general meeting in Dallas in June. Abuse victims have criticized the church for failing to take a clear, uncompromising position against child abuse. 

Eight U.S. cardinals are gathering in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Friday for a previously scheduled benefit dinner. 

Some information for this report provided by AP. 

Email this article to a friend.
Printer Friendly Version