US: Cardinal Bernard Law yesterday apologised again for his handling of sexual abuse cases in Boston and announced that he would be taking up residence outside the archdiocese of Boston following his resignation as archbishop.
Making his first appearance since returning from the Vatican at the weekend, Cardinal Law told journalists that he would fulfil his duties as cardinal and make himself available for legal proceedings.
Pope John Paul II accepted Cardinal Law's resignation on Friday after his moral authority in Boston collapsed over his handling of abusive priests. He has been subpoenaed to appear before a Boston grand jury to answer questions on the abuse scandal.
The cardinal, dressed in black and wearing a Roman collar, declined to take questions and seemed on the verge of tears as he finished reading a prepared statement.
"My personal plans for the future are not fully developed," he said. "I will take a brief vacation with some priest friends after Christmas and then I will go on retreat in a monastery. Following that I will take up residence outside the archdiocese and continue my responsibilities as cardinal.
"Needless to say I will continue to be available as necessary for the legal process." Addressing the assembled media in the Chancery, the archdiocesan headquarters in Brighton, he said "thank you for your criticisms".
In the past the cardinal has attacked the local media for their coverage of sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church.
A spokesman for Voice of the Faithful, the lay organisation that called for the cardinal's resignation last week, said last night that they found the statement "appropriate and gracious".
They were now waiting for a decision from Bishop Richard Lennon, who has been given interim charge of the archdiocese, on lifting the ban on the Voice of the Faithful from meeting in church premises, the spokesman said. They sent a fax to Bishop Lennon on Friday asking for "open and honest dialogue" and were waiting for a response, he said.
"It is my hope and it is my prayer that my resignation as archbishop might help the archdiocese of Boston to experience the healing, to experience reconciliation and to experience unity," Cardinal Lww said.
"To all those who have suffered from my shortcomings and my mistakes I once again apologise and from them I beg forgiveness.
"During these past 11 months decisions have been made and policies strengthened which ensure the safety of children as the archdiocese moves forward. Our commitment to a comprehensive plan to deal with all aspects of this issue has begun to develop and to be implemented. I had hoped to be part of that implementation.
"It came to be ever more clear to me that the most effective way that I might serve the church at this moment was to resign."
Paddy Agnew writes from Rome:
The Vatican has issued a formal approval of the US bishops' revised policy for dealing with clerical sex abuse.
The widely expected approval, which came just three days after Cardinal Law resigned his post, was contained in a letter from Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation of Bishops, to Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the US Bishops' Conference.
When the US bishops first drew up their "Essential Norms" at the Dallas conference in June, the Vatican had expressed concern about at least four issues.
Since then, a commission of Vatican and US bishops has revised the norms, moving them away from the "zero tolerance" policy envisaged at Dallas to one of due process, in which church tribunals review cases before any action is taken against a priest and one which underlines the primacy ofthe bishops in settling penalties.