Cardinal Law begs forgiveness

CARDINAL Bernard Law said he hoped his resignation would bring "healing, reconciliation and unity" to the Boston Archdiocese, after an agonising year of revelations of sexual abuse

But his departure will not end the legal entanglements he and the Boston Archdiocese face. Nor will it relieve the pressures that have brought the archdiocese to the brink of financial ruin.

Cardinal Law is scheduled to be questioned by lawyers representing alleged victims of abuse starting tomorrow and he has been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury investigating a possible cover-up by church officials. On Saturday morning, he arrived at Rome's Fiumicino airport for the flight home, one day after his resignation was accepted by the Pope.