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Catholic World News News Feature

Cardinal Law given ceremonial posting in Rome May 27, 2004

Cardinal Bernard Law, who resigned as Archbishop of Boston in the face of a sex-abuse scandal there, has been appointed by Pope John Paul II as Archpriest of the Roman basilica of St. Mary Major.

The appointment of Cardinal Law to a largely ceremonial position in Rome resolves questions about the future of the 72-year-old American prelate. Since his resignation in December 2002, the cardinal has been serving as the chaplain for a small convent outside Washington, DC. Since Cardinal Law is still well short of the ordinary retirement age of bishops (75), and apparently in good health, there had been some speculation that he would receive a new post in the Roman Curia.

As Archpriest of St. Mary Major, the cardinal will preside over major ceremonies at one of the four great basilicas of Rome. (The others are St. Peter's, St. John Lateran, and St. Paul Outside the Wall.) The post is ordinarily filled by a prelate who has passed retirement age.

Cardinal Law will succeed Cardinal Carlo Furno, who has resigned as archpriest at the age of 82. Cardinal Furno had held the position since 1997, after concluding a career in Vatican diplomacy.

Cardinal Law remains a member of several different congregations of the Roman Curia: the Congregations for Bishops, the Clergy, Divine Worship, Evangelization, Religious, Life, the Eastern Churches, and Catholic Education; he is also a member of the Pontifical Councils for the Family and for Culture. He remains eligible to vote in a papal election.