ROME
Associated Press
December 20, 2017
Pope Francis sent a telegram of condolences Wednesday to the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, for the death of Cardinal Bernard Law and said he is praying for his soul.
The letter made no mention of Law’s role as the former archbishop of Boston, where he was responsible for covering up for sexually abusive priests in a scandal that erupted across the nation and eventually cost the American church some $3 billion in legal fees.
Rather, Francis’ telegram referred to Law’s final position as archpriest of the St Mary Major basilica in Rome.
In it Francis said: “I raise prayers for the repose of his soul, that the Lord, God who is rich in mercy, may welcome him in His eternal peace, and I send my apostolic blessing to those who share in mourning the passing of the cardinal.”
An advocacy group for survivors of sex abuse called for Pope Francis to keep survivors in mind when he celebrates Cardinal Bernard Law’s funeral Mass.
SNAP, which gained prominence as the US abuse scandal erupted in Law’s Boston in 2002, said no victim of sexual abuse will ever receive the same attention and pomp that Law received in life and is due to receive in death.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.