BOSTON (CNS): Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of the United States’ highest-ranking Church leader, Cardinal Bernard F. Law of Boston, over the cardinal’s handling of sex abuse by priests in his archdiocese.
Cardinal Law is the first cardinal in the world to resign his post because of a failure to protect children from sexually abusive priests under his charge.
His resignation as Archbishop of Boston on December 13 came at the end of a year in which the burgeoning clergy sex abuse scandal practically paralysed his archdiocese and exploded into a national crisis that consumed the energies of Church leaders across the US.
Cardinal Law, 71, had led Boston archdiocese since 1984. As a cardinal since 1985, he was the highest-ranking member of the US hierarchy.
In a brief statement from the Vatican he said he hoped his resignation would help the archdiocese “experience the healing, reconciliation and unity which are so desperately needed”.
“To all those who have suffered from my shortcomings and mistakes, I both apologise and from them beg forgiveness,” he said.
His departure was announced less than an hour after he met privately with the Pope at the end of a week-long unannounced visit to the Vatican.
The Pope was “deeply saddened” by the resignation, a Vatican press official said.
The pontiff named Boston Auxiliary Bishop Richard G. Lennon, 55, as apostolic administrator, or interim head, of the archdiocese until a new archbishop is named.
It was unclear what public role, if any, Cardinal Law would continue to play in the Church. As a cardinal, he retains his right to vote in a papal conclave until he turns 80 in November 2011.
A Vatican press official said the cardinal also would remain a member of the various Vatican congregations and commissions on which he serves.
