VATICAN CITY--Cardinal Bernard F. Law, the former Boston archbishop who resigned in the sex abuse scandal, is moving to Rome. According to the Associated Press, Pope John Paul II has named the 72-year-old Law the archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica.
Reportedly the position is a primarily ceremonial post that is often given to retired prelates. An archpriest is in charge of administration in a basilica, and has ceremonial functions.
After resigning in 2002 Law moved from Boston and became resident chaplain at a convent in Maryland. He remained active at events in Rome, however.
The new high-profile post for Law sends a bad message to the more than 130 alleged victims of sexual abuse by priests, according to Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian.
"He apparently is being transferred to a position that is comfortable and appears to be some sort of reward," Garabedian said. He represents the alleged victims. "The Vatican either doesn't understand the problem of clergy sex abuse, or it doesn't care. That shows by this new prestigious post given to Cardinal Law."
According to the AP, Law was named in hundreds of lawsuits that accused him of failing to protect children from known child molesters.
No one at the Basilica could be reached for comment on the report.
