VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter
by John L. Allen Jr. | Feb. 13, 2013
Rome —
Earlier this week, confirmation that Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles will participate in next month’s conclave was greeted with trepidation by some, worrying that it may cast a shadow over the papal transition by stirring fresh debate over the church’s response to the sexual abuse crisis.
Two weeks ago, Mahony’s successor, Archbishop Jose Gomez, relieved him of “administrative and public duties” over what Gomez described as a “failure to fully protect young people entrusted to his care.” The move came in tandem with the release of archdiocesan files on abuse cases, many of which were handled by Mahony.
In that context, Mahony’s presence in Rome may raise eyebrows and stir commentary.
Today, Rome caught glimpses of a prelate who’s already been down that path, in the form of Cardinal Bernard Law.
Although now 81 and ineligible to vote in the conclave, Law was present both at Benedict XVI’s general audience in the Paul VI hall this morning and at the Ash Wednesday Mass this evening in St. Peter’s Basilica. He resigned as archbishop of Boston in December 2002 amid strong criticism of his handling of abuse cases and relocated to Rome as the Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major. He stepped down from that post in November 2011.
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