Embattled Cardinal steers clear of church

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.

Boston-area priests are also circulating a draft statement calling for Cardinal Law’s resignation, and plan to deliver it to him if they get 50 signatures.

Some 400 protesters gathered outside the cathedral, where Law was expected to celebrate Mass, as they have since the abuse scandal erupted in January. An archdiocese spokeswoman refused to say where Law was, saying only that he had no public schedule.

Yesterday’s larger-than-usual protest was fuelled by last week’s release of new internal church documents containing some of the most spectacular allegations yet, suggesting church officials tolerated a wide range of clergy misconduct, and not just sexual abuse of boys.

“His presence here is hindering the ability of the victims to come out. He is the real voice of dissent here. He is the one flouting Catholic teachings time and again,” said Jean Garrity, 43, of Wellesley, a member of the dissident group Voice of the Faithful.

Cardinal Law has brushed off calls for his resignation for months, but for the first time he now faces the same request from priests.

The priests’ draft statement, a copy of which was obtained by The Boston Globe, praises his work helping the homeless and building relations with the Jewish community.

“However,” it adds, “the events of recent months and, in particular, of these last few days, make it clear to us that your position as our bishop is so compromised that it is no longer possible for you to exercise the spiritual leadership required for the church of Boston.”