Cardinal Takes Secret Trip To Rome

BOSTON -- The head of Boston's Catholic Archdiocese, Cardinal Bernard Law, took a secret trip to Rome over the weekend as protests calling for his resignation grew -- both from parishioners and priests.

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Hundreds Of Protesters Call For Law's Resignation

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that Law's spokeswoman is expected to release a statement regarding the purpose of his trip to the Vatican. He was given permission by the archdiocese finance council last week to begin bankruptcy proceedings, which must be given approval by the Vatican.

It was eight months ago, in April, that Law first went to the Vatican, seeking council on whether he should resign in the face of the archdiocese's devastating priest sex abuse crisis. He returned saying he was determined not to resign.

But last week, attorneys for alleged sex abuse victims released more archdiocese personnel documents that revealed an even wider pattern of priestly sex abuse and misconduct, all of it covered up by Law and other archdiocese officials, who continued to reassign errant priests.

The papers, part of a massive release of church personnel files that victims' lawyers pried from the archdiocese, document a priest beating his housekeeper and threatening alleged sex abuse victims, another trading cocaine for sex, and a third enticing teenagers training to become nuns into sex by claiming to be the second coming of Christ.

Later in the week, other papers disclosed that a priest fathered at least two children and apparently failed to immediately get medical help for the mother of their children as she overdosed.

Law's trip to Rome on the heels of the documents' release led to speculation as to the purpose of the journey.

"He's going there obviously for one of two reasons. The first would be to request permission to file bankruptcy, which is required by canonical law. And the second reason would be to request permission to resign. Or both," said attorney Jeffrey Newman, an attorney for alleged sex abuse victims.

For the first time, Boston-area priests are also joining parishioners in calling on Law to resign.

"We the people demand your resignation now, today!" said parishioner Joe Gallagher, voicing the sentiment of hundreds of protesters who showed up at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston where Law was supposed to say Mass.

In Newton, Mass., parishioners at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, where priests have been meeting to discuss the ongoing crisis, discussed the meaning of Law's trip to Rome.

"Maybe the Holy Father and other cardinals and bishops could consult with him and say, 'What would be best for this church in Boston?'" said parishioner Alex Naglowsky.

Over the weekend, an unprecedented petition began circulating among area priests, calling on Law to resign. The letter reads, in part, "We write to request your resignation ... We have valued the good work you have done here, however your position as our bishop is so compromised that it's no longer possible for you to exercise the spiritual leadership required for the church of Boston."

The Rev. Robert Bullock, the head of a 250-member Boston Priests Forum, said the draft document, which called for 50 signatures by noon Sunday, would require many more signatories to indicate a "consensus" that Law had to go. Once the document was finished, he would sign it himself, he said.

"We need new leadership, and we cannot build trust and confidence without new leadership," he said.

The Boston Priests Forum plans to discuss calling on Law to resign at a meeting Friday, he said.