Cardinal Bernard Law Retires - May He One Day Face a Higher Law

I came out to my former wife in October 2001, just moths before the sex abuse scandal exploded in the Archdiocese of Boston. Subsequently, in February, 2002, I did a guest editorial in the Virginian Pilot when the then Bishop of Richmond, Virginia whined in a letter to the editor that the Catholic Church was being subjected to anti-Catholic bigotry. Even though my guest editorial laid out the statistics of sexual abuse by priests worldwide, I was roundly attacked by sheep like followers of the morally bankrupt Catholic bishops. Central to the sex abuse scandal in Boston was Cardinal Bernard Law, the Archbishop of Boston. As things heated up and it became clear that Law had sent out henchmen (e/g. Bishop Daly, later Supreme Chaplain to the Knights of Columbus and Bishop Egan, later Archbishop of New York) to threaten and intimidate victims of abuse and their families, Cardinal Law resigned his archbishopric and fled to Rome - most likely to dodge the Boston police and court subpoenas.

Was Law punished in Rome? Not hardly. He was given a plum position and literally lived as a price in a palace. Would that all of us could be so severely punished. The upside of the scandal was that I realized that there was no reason for me to suffer from religious based guilt for being gay. With Law's retirement from his plum position in Rome, a column in the Boston Herald looks at Law's tawdry legacy. Here are highlights:

So Cardinal Bernard Law goes out, at worst, with but a gentle, subtle push. It’s hardly a satisfying end for the international “poster child for child clergy sex abuse,” as Vatican watcher Peter Borre called Law yesterday.

Law was never indicted. He was never tried. He never had to explain why in the world he wrote glowing letters of recommendation for priests accused of molesting hundreds of children, as he did for Father John Geoghan and Father Paul Shanley.

News flashes yesterday all referred to him as the “disgraced” cardinal. But that disgrace brought him a promotion, not punishment from the Vatican for aiding and abetting such crimes.

Remember how Suffolk Superior Court officials treated Law like royalty when, even as evidence mounted against him, they nonetheless let him and his dark-windowed sedan be whisked inside a garage, then up a back elevator. He never had to face the TV cameras or reporters’ questions.

And most people I’ve asked expect Law to stay in Rome, a city he reportedly adores [and which keeps him outside of the reach of U.S. police authorities]. A month ago I would’ve said well, at least we’ve all learned a lesson. Then Penn State came along.

Catholics who bucked the odds to remain Catholic can separate their faith from the corrupt cabal of cardinals. And many Catholics see justice around the corner as the 80-year-old Law inches ever closer to the ultimate higher authority.

My Op-Ed on Virginia News Source.com

My friend Morris is the editor of the libertarian news page Virginianewssource.com. Per his request, I have an op-ed feaured today on why ENDA's passage is needed. The op-ed is here (http://www.virginianewssource.com/VNS/ENDA_act.html) and reads as follows:

Why The Employment Non-Discrimination Act is Necessary by Michael Hamar, Attorney At Law

Yesterday, the U. S. House of Representatives passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (“ENDA”) by a 235 to 184 margin. A similar bill is expected to be introduced in the U. S. Senate before year end. While President Bush has made noises about vetoing the bill if it is passed by Congress, support for the bill is important. True, there are those who will be actively spreading disinformation about the ENDA’s impact:

First, it is important to understand that ENDA will NOT impact “mom and pop” operations with fewer than 15 employees.

Secondly, there is a blanket exemption for religious organizations. Therefore, anyone who contends that these types of employers will be affected is, pardon my blunt language, a liar.

Most of this false information will sadly come from self-styled “Christian” groups. Other opponents will contend that one’s sexual orientation is a choice. That claim is also false and is not supported by any REPUTABLE medical or mental health organization. The reality is that everyday around the majority of states in this country, Virginia, included, gay individuals can be and are regularly fired from their jobs based solely on the basis of their sexual orientation.

This happens due to the prejudice and bias of employers themselves or that of other employees who seek to have them fired. The end result is the same: an individual who was properly doing his/her job is suddenly unemployed due to discrimination against them for who they are. In whatever form ENDA passes – and its passage is critical for gay communities in states like Virginia – it would provide federal protections to employees against discrimination based on sexual orientation. For gay individuals, passage would bring a level of job security previously unknown.

In Virginia, so many individuals remain closeted at work for fear of losing their job. For employers, passage would mean that prospective employees would not be fearful of accepting employment in Virginia and sacrificing protections they might enjoy in other states with state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation as a protected category.

ENDA would make Virginia and Hampton Roads more competitive in attracting the best and brightest workers. Passage of ENDA is a win-win for gay employees and gay and gay friendly owned employers.

Responsible, hard working citizens should not fear job loss solely because their sexual orientation does not conform to someone else’s religious beliefs. All gay individuals and gay owned business, together with gay friendly businesses and fair minded individuals, should let their elected officials (including the President) know that they support the passage of ENDA.