A Cardinal Point

It was not anger among American Catholics that forced Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law out of office last week.

Yes, his fall as the preeminent Roman Catholic leader in the US came after angry protests by the laity over his lax handling of abusive priests and the institution's cover-up of his misjudgments over many years.

And yes, that anger among the faithful was reflected in the call of 58 Boston-area priests for their own leader to resign as well as in the declining financial contributions to church by the faithful. And yes, the anger of Catholics and many others led to a grand jury subpoena of Cardinal Law.

It wasn't Catholic anger or mounting public pressure that caused the church to jettison one of its prominent members from his high post.

Rather, it was an intense love for children, and a deep desire to safeguard them and the hope they represent for a better future, that forced Law to step down.

Almost all Americans, not just the Catholic laity, have been moved during this crisis to reaffirm the basic purpose of society - to help the next generation be better than the last one. That compelling force for an ever- expanding view of humanity's potential is at the heart of this crisis, and is driving it toward a resolution.

The crisis may not stop with Law's resignation.

Non-Catholics can continue to support Catholics as they try to restructure their church to be more responsive to this most basic concern of the faithful - nurturing children.

That same compulsion of love can also reach the many adults and young people abused by priests. They need not be scarred for life if the church, its faithful, the government, and others work to reaffirm their worth and heal their hurt, the way any loving parent would do for a child.

You've read 3 of 3 free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to A Cardinal Point
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1216/p08s02-comv.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe
CSM logo

Why is Christian Science in our name?

Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that.

The Church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we’ve aimed “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.

Here, you’ll find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences – a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.

Explore values journalism About us