WHETHER they want women priests, more say for the laity or a return to the Latin Mass, Roman Catholic interest groups are sending their varied messages to Rome - attempting to exert some small influence on the selection of the next pope or at least get more attention for their causes.

BELEAGUERED Boston Cardinal Bernard Law and more than five bishops have been ordered to appear before a grand jury which is investigating church officials who supervised priests accused of paedophilia.

Cardinal Bernard Law, the figure at the centre of renewed anger over abuse by Catholic priests in the Boston area, was making an unexpected visit to the Vatican today.

FACING rekindled outrage from parishioners and some priests over new revelations of clergy misconduct, Cardinal Bernard Law stayed away from Boston’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross yesterday as protesters renewed calls for his resignation.

Facing rekindled outrage from priests and parishioners over new revelations of clergy misconduct, Boston Cardinal Bernard Law stayed away from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross today as protesters renewed calls for his resignation.