Cardinal Bernard Law

Cardinal Bernard Law
Type	Cardinal
Honorific-prefix	His Eminence
Name	Bernard Law
Title	Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of Boston
Church	Roman Catholic Church
Archdiocese	Boston
See	Boston
Appointed	January 11, 1984
Term end	December 13, 2002
Predecessor	Humberto Sousa Medeiros
Successor	Seán Patrick O'Malley
Ordination	May 21, 1961
Ordained by	Egidio Vagnozzi
Consecration	October 22, 1973
Consecrated by	Joseph Bernardin
Cardinal	May 25, 1985
Created cardinal by	Pope John Paul II
Rank	Cardinal-Priest
Other post	Cardinal-Priest of Santa Susanna

Cardinal Bernard Law was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the Archbishop of Boston from 1984 until his resignation in 2002. He was created a cardinal in 1985 by Pope John Paul II. His tenure was permanently defined by his handling of the clergy sexual abuse scandal, which led to a crisis in the Archdiocese of Boston and his eventual departure from the United States.

Early life and education

Bernard Francis Law was born on November 4, 1931, in Torreón, Mexico, to a United States Air Force officer and a mother of French descent. He spent his early childhood in Colon, Panama, and various military bases before his family settled in Bogalusa, Louisiana. He attended St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana, and later studied at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He completed his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Priesthood and episcopate

Law was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson on May 21, 1961, in Rome by Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi. He served as a parish priest in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and later as the editor of the diocesan newspaper, the Mississippi Register. He became deeply involved in the Civil rights movement, serving as the first executive director of the U.S. Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. In 1973, Pope Paul VI appointed him Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau; he was consecrated by Archbishop Joseph Bernardin in Jackson, Mississippi.

Archbishop of Boston

Pope John Paul II appointed Law as the Archbishop of Boston in 1984, succeeding Cardinal Humberto Sousa Medeiros. As archbishop, he was known as a theologically conservative leader and a close ally of the Holy See. He served on several Vatican congregations, including the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 1985, with the titular church of Santa Susanna, the American church in Rome. During his tenure, he was a prominent voice on national issues, often engaging with figures like Senator Edward Kennedy on matters of social policy.

Sexual abuse scandal and resignation

Law's leadership was catastrophically undermined by the burgeoning clergy sexual abuse scandal. Investigations by The Boston Globe's Spotlight Team, along with lawsuits and grand jury subpoenas, revealed that Law and other diocesan officials had systematically reassigned priests accused of abuse, such as John Geoghan and Paul Shanley, to new parishes without notifying authorities or the public. Facing immense pressure from Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly, widespread protests by groups like Voice of the Faithful, and the release of damaging internal documents, Law resigned as Archbishop of Boston on December 13, 2002. His resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II.

Later life and death

Following his resignation, Law moved to Rome in 2004. Pope John Paul II appointed him as Archpriest of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, a prestigious ceremonial post. He retained this position and his membership in various Vatican departments, participating in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. He resigned as Archpriest in 2011. Law died on December 20, 2017, at a Rome hospital after a long illness. His Requiem Mass was held at St. Peter's Basilica, presided over by Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

Legacy

Cardinal Bernard Law remains a central and controversial figure in the history of the Catholic Church in the United States. His actions in Boston became a primary catalyst for the global exposure of the Catholic sex abuse cases. The scandal prompted major reforms, including the Dallas Charter adopted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. His later role in the Roman Curia was criticized by survivors' groups like SNAP. Law's career is often cited as a stark example of ecclesiastical failure in governance and moral leadership, profoundly impacting the Church's credibility and prompting ongoing legal and institutional scrutiny worldwide.

Category:American cardinals Category:Archbishops of Boston Category:1931 births Category:2017 deaths