Cardinal Law Must Go!

(Jan 25) On January 24 the Boston Globe published papers which clearly indicate that the Catholic Church had known that Father John Geoghan was molesting children as far back as the 1960's yet continued to assign him to local parishes until 1993.

Cardinal Law arrived in the Boston archdiocese in 1984.  The documents clearly demonstrate that he knew about Father Geoghan from the outset.  Cardinal Law has now come forward and admitted that he made a mistake by reassigning Geoghan to a parish in Weston in 1984.  According to the Globe, "Law said the decision was based on ''psychiatric assessments and medical opinions that such assignments were safe and reasonable.''  Yet Dr. Robert W. Mullins, one of the two doctors who declared Geoghan to be ''fully recovered'' in 1984, was a general practitioner who acknowledged yesterday that he has no credentials in psychotherapy or psychiatry."

As the Globe noted, "The archdiocese already had substantial evidence of Geoghan's predatory sexual habits. That included his assertion in 1980 that his repeated abuse of seven boys in one extended family was not a "serious" problem, according to an archdiocesan record.  And the St. Julia's assignment proved disastrous. First, Geoghan was put in charge of three youth groups, including altar boys. In 1989, he was forced to go on sick leave after more complaints of sexual abuse, and spent months in two institutions that treat sexually abusive priests.  Even so, the archdiocese returned him to St. Julia's, where Geoghan continued to abuse children for another three years."

Since the mid-1990's more than 130 children have come forward with claims of abuse at the hands of Father Geoghan.  As a Catholic and someone who was confirmed in the Church by Cardinal Law, it brings me no joy to say that he is a co-conspirator in the molestation of every one of Geoghan's victims after 1984.  Cardinal Law demonstrated a reckless, criminal disregard for those whom he was supposed to protect, comfort and minister.  He exposed the most vulnerable in all of society, children, to a serial pedophile.  

Cardinal Law now admits that mistakes were made.  He is changing the archdiocese's policies.  He says he will turn over to authorities a retroactive list of all the names of priests who have been accused of pedophilia.  According to the Globe, "Law said he has decided to report pedophilia retroactively because he now realizes that pedophiles, even though no longer working as priests, may still pose a danger to children."  This statement is an outrage.  He now realizes?  Please.  His cover-up has been exposed and he is in major damage control mode.

The change in policy, the open and full disclosure are all good moves by Cardinal Law.  The one move which he has yet to do however is the most critical for Catholics all over New England.  He must resign in order for people to be able to feel as though they can trust the Church.  We need a new voice.  A new leader. Cardinal Law had his chance and he chose the path of least resistance, leading to the molestation of  hundreds of children and God only knows how much personal pain and inner turmoil for those victims.

The sooner he resigns the sooner the Church can begin to rebuild its relationship with its shaken followers.