Cardinal Law, Kind and Loving Shepherd, Requiescat in Pace!

Today, there is no more suffering, no more lies, no more slander. The loss of Cardinal Law is felt by many who knew and loved him.

If ever there was a soul who deserved the prayers "rest in peace", it is Cardinal Law!

It took me some time to find news coverage on Cardinal Law's death that I could stomach and link to, but I finally found one here.

I even tried the Pilot, but I was not the least bit happy with what I found there - Cardinal O'Malley's 'statement'.

I'm sure I am being overly-sensitive, and admit a lot of thought had to go into a statement from the current Cardinal, but the 'statement' derails. It's emphasis on apology and blaming him for the dysfunction and mishandling sexual abuse inside the Church, though sadly typical, in reality is an invention of those looking for a scapegoat - many of whom are enemies of Church teaching. The Archdiocese never should have, nor should it now-especially at Cardinal Law's death, be following them down this rabbit hole.

For the love of God, give it a rest.

Did Cardinal Law make bad decisions? Of course. But, as we are watching the many ways victims of sexual predators respond to abuse in Hollywood - Cardinal Law actually didn't do anything different than everybody else. To this day.

The sad reality is, some victims looked for ways to profit from inappropriate and criminal sexual conduct. The Church was a big turkey to pluck. And pluck they did.

For instance, it should not go unnoticed nor unmentioned that there is NO moral outrage over Ashley Judd's confession that everyone knew, or should have known Harvey Weinstein was a sexual predator, and when Weinstein propositioned her, she offered him sex for a role that would win her an Oscar. This is a woman who pitches herself as a spokesperson for women 'victims'. The world accepts her handling of the cover up of sexual abuse by offering herself as a prostitute for money and power.

There is plenty of indefensible corruption and dysfunction in the Church. I've dedicated a lot of time in twenty-plus years writing about it. I have no intention of being politically correct about Cardinal Law. Many of us feel blessed to have known real man, priest and Cardinal. I don’t think anyone in the history of civilization was more lied about and slandered. My prayer is that the Archbishop and media sources in the Archdiocese take the high road.

Let me tell you something interesting. My youngest, who was blessed to served Cardinal Law as an altar server, sent me the news of Cardinal Law's death last night. Confined, I wrote a few friends of Cardinal Law, sending my condolences, and told a little story about how I came to know and love the Cardinal. I've told the story a few times on the blog, but sharing it this time, I was reminded of something. If a Cardinal can be hoodwinked and lied to, so can a Pope. I realize there's a lot more going on in Rome, but the power struggles are not helping.

Lord Acton was not exaggerating. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I'm sharing a little of what I wrote to the grieving - as a reminder.


Many years before I personally met the Cardinal (mid-90sish), many Catholic parents in suburbs were struggling with some way-out-there-with Pluto catechesis of our children. We would call the Chancery and we’d be told, the Cardinal OK’d it. I couldn’t believe it – it was so inconsistent with what I heard him say. So one day, I decided to go talk to him myself. I’m not even sure what incident it was—I think it was the time the Chancery Office for Worship was coming to suburbs saying they were going to pull the Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament from the Worship Space –completely!—Christ was only supposed to be reserved in the Sacristy for Viaticum—and they were instituting all kinds of nutty changes to the Mass. We were going to use pita bread, laity was going to come into the Sanctuary at Consecration and Hold up Christ at Elevation and help the priest break the pita bread into pieces—it was NUTS! I called the Cardinal’s office and his staff said he approved it. I had been to his Masses, knew how controlling he was about serving Christ with perfection in the Sacred Liturgy. I KNEW I was either being lied to, or he was losing his marbles!

So, I packed up the kids and came to the Cathedral, stood in the back line at the back of the Church –young toddlers in tow acting up—and when I got to him, I briefly explained what was happening and said I called the Chancery and they said you approved it.

There was enough steam coming out of his ears to get a spaceship to the moon! He told me I was being lied to and it would be yanked the next morning. He also told me to come directly to him about legitimate, serious problems. And I did. I’d meet him after Mass and tell him such and such was happening. And he always set the crooked lines straight.

How he suffered for the Church! How grateful I am for the many people who stayed by his side to love and console him. Thank you for all you did during his life! Prayers this morning that Christ richly rewards you!

I hadn’t seen him since the day before he left for Rome. I always wanted to see him again. I never got the feeling that we were convincing him of the exaggerations and demonic stuff happening behind the fatwa against him. I always wanted to try again.

But today, he knows! Today, our Beloved Christ has consoled him—and I know he finally understands he was a victim of the battle between the principalities and powers. Yes, he played a hand or two – just like the rest of us – but a great deal of his suffering and guilt foisted upon him is today relieved. For that I am grateful. Prayers for him and for all of us who knew and loved him.

Would very much appreciate prayers for the repose of his soul and for consolation for those who loved him.