Cardinal Law marks 80th birthday in style

The 80th birthday of disgraced former Boston Cardinal Bernard Law was a lavish spread in a four-star Italian hotel, where guests rolled up in Vatican Mercedes sedans, reports the Boston Herald.

People left the celebration singing the praises of the fallen prelate promoted to his Vatican post of archpriest of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.

The resplendent reception that marked Law’s 80th birthday sent shock waves an ocean away in Boston, where the mere mention of his name still sparks seething anger in clergy abuse victims whose attackers he protected during his years as archbishop.

“He’s closing in on his remaining years, and as a man of faith I know he believes in a final judgment. I’m curious if he’s getting nervous,” said Phil Saviano, who was abused by a Worcester priest almost five decades ago.

“I wonder if he looks back on all the good he accomplished and if he thinks that … outweighs so many hundreds of kids on his watch who had to go through so much trauma and emotional pain,” added Saviano, who founded a local chapter of Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests.

The Herald revealed yesterday that Boston Archbishop Cardinal Sean O’Malley, in Rome on church business, had snubbed Law’s Vatican birthday shindig.

“The meal was spectacular,” said Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general emeritus of the Archdiocese of Rome. He twirled his hand in the air, a common Italian gesture for satisfaction.

Turning 80, Cardinal Law is no longer eligible to vote in the conclave.

Source

Additional reading

News category: World.

Tags: , ,