Resignation spark calls for Connell to follow suit

SURVIVORS of child abuse have renewed their calls for Cardinal Desmond Connell to step down following the resignation of Boston archbishop Bernard Law yesterday.

Pope John Paul II accepted Cardinal Law’s resignation after months of public outrage at his failure to protect children from clerical sex abuse.

He is the highest-ranking church leader to fall as a result of the clerical sex abuse crisis that has plagued the Catholic Church this year.

Irish Survivors of Child Sex Abuse (SOCA) welcomed the resignation and said Cardinal Connell must now follow a similar fate.

“Cardinal Law’s resignation came about as a result of victims having to drag him screaming to be made accountable. We are repeating our call for Cardinal Connell to resign. However, any resignation must not allow him to escape accountability or justice for his involvement in crimes against children,” said spokesperson John Kelly.

Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation of Cardinal Law after the two men met yesterday in Rome. The Pope named Bishop Richard Lennon, an auxiliary bishop in Boston, to run the diocese temporarily.

Cardinal Law apologised to victims of abuse. “I am profoundly grateful to the Holy Father for having accepted my resignation as archbishop of Boston.

“To all those who have suffered from my shortcomings and mistakes, I both apologise and from them beg forgiveness.”

Bishop Lennon takes over at an immensely challenging time for the diocese. More than 400 alleged victims are suing the archdiocese, and Cardinal Law has taken steps to allow it to file for bankruptcy.

At least 325 priests of America’s 46,000 priests have been removed from duty or resigned this year because of molestation claims.

The Pope was described by Vatican sources as “deeply saddened” by the whole affair. Cardinal Law was one of the Pope’s closest American advisers.

In April, Cardinal Law offered to resign in a meeting with the Pope, but the Pontiff rejected the idea.

Cardinal Connell also offered his formal resignation after he reached retirement age, but it was also turned down by the Vatican.