Pope accepts resignation of US cardinal in sex abuse scandal

Pope John Paul II yesterday bowed to months of scandal and tumult that had threatened to tear apart one of the most powerful sees in America, and accepted the resignation of the Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Bernard Law.

By allowing him to step down, the Pope hopes to staunch the damage to a church that has been riven for months by almost daily revelations of sexual abuse by the clergy, and by the efforts of the church authorities to cover it up.

"It is my fervent prayer that this action may help the archdiocese of Boston to experience the healing, reconciliation and unity which are so desperately needed," Cardinal Law said in a brief statement.

He apologised to the victims of sexual abuse, which could run into thousands since the first case came to light in 1960, asked for forgiveness, and to be allowed to exit quietly. "The particular circumstances of this time suggest a quiet departure. Please keep me in your prayers," the statement ended.

Both requests seemed unlikely to be heeded yesterday. "What I really want for a Christmas present is for Law to be led away in handcuffs," said Maryetta Dussourd, whose seven children and nephews were molested by a priest.

The cardinal's involvement in concealing the abuse during his 17-year tenure will be re-examined on Tuesday when he will be called to give evidence in civil suits filed by victims of the clergy.

It remained unclear yesterday what effect Cardinal Law's resignation would have on the archdiocese's decision on whether to declare bankruptcy, and so minimise the impact of 400 lawsuits filed against predatory priests. The archdiocese has paid out tens of millions of dollars so far, and faces claims totalling more than $100m (£65m).

In an interim move, Richard Lennon, 55, was named apostolic administrator of the archdiocese yesterday. He is the most junior bishop in the Boston area, and as the rector of a local seminary, is believed to be untainted by the scandal of sexual abuse by the clergy.

Cardinal Law's exit in disgrace effectively ends the career of a man who was once the most influential prelate in America. Cardinal Law is by far the highest-ranking of nine American bishops forced to step down since 1990 because of a sex scandal, and the first to leave amid charges that he tried to protect sexually abusive priests from prosecution.

"This is an historic moment in the historic time of the church, here in the diocese and in America," said Steve Krueger of the Voice of the Faithful.

The lay group, which claims 25,000 members, spoke out against Cardinal Law for the first time this week. Together with 58 Boston priests, who also called for Cardinal Law's resignation, they joined the clamour that at last became too loud for the Pope to ignore.

Until the scandal over sexually abusive priests erupted last January, the Cardinal had been touted as a possible candidate for Pope. His conservative views - he denounced abortion as the "primordial evil of our time" and those who tried to modernise the faith as "cafeteria Catholics" who liked to pick and choose - also chimed with the primate.

After a stellar career, he will be remembered mainly for the last 11 months, and the effort he expended to repair the damage done to the church under his stewardship when he kept on many of the 80 Boston priests accused since 1960 of seuxally abusing minors.

To the growing legion of critics, Cardinal Law argued that the archdiocese had been badly advised by physicians and therapists on the nature of sex crimes, and that haphazard record-keeping prevented him from maintaining a watch on priests who had become dangerous.

The extent of the Vatican's retreat is shown by the fact that when the cardinal offered to resign last April, the Pope refused to let him stand aside.