Grzegorz Galazka/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images(ROME) — Funeral services for Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, the disgraced former Archbishop of Boston who left his position in 2002, will be held Thursday at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He died Wednesday at age 86.

Law was accused of covering up for priests involved in sexual abuse scandals in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Under his leadership, the cardinal moved accused priests to other assignments and failed to protect or support victims of sexual assault. His death reignited strong emotions throughout the Catholic church, particularly in his hometown. At the height of the scandals, Law was moved to a position in Rome, safe from prosecution. He remained in Rome until his death this week from an undisclosed illness. He was never charged for any crimes.

Pope Francis skirted the issue in his telegram of condolences to the College of Cardinals. But Law’s predecessor as Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, noted in his statement that much anger remains directed at Law for his complicity and help for accused priests.

“I recognize that Cardinal Law’s passing brings forth a wide range of emotions on the part of many people,” O’Malley said. “I am particularly cognizant of all who experienced the trauma of sexual abuse by clergy, whose lives were so seriously impacted by those crimes, and their families and loved ones. To those men and women, I offer my sincere apologies for the harm they suffered, my continued prayers and my promise that the Archdiocese will support them in their effort to achieve healing.”

O’Malley also said he was sad that Law’s ministry to the sick and the poor, as well as to migrants, was overshadowed by the abuse crisis. But in Boston, critics said Law was “an enabler of clergy sexual abuse.”

Pope Francis, who has taken a much harder line against sexual abuse in the church, asked for “prayers for the repose of his soul” and for God to welcome him in eternal peace. The pontiff will preside over final funeral rites for Law, something that is customary for all Rome-based cardinals.
 
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