Lawyers for the victims of paedophile priests in Cardinal Law's archdiocese have said his decision to step down would have no affect on the hundreds of lawsuits pending against the Boston archdiocese.
The victims, while welcoming Cardinal Law's resignation, said it provided little relief for the trauma they had suffered as children.
"As a Catholic, I suppose I have some sympathy for the devil," said one alleged victim, Mr William Overly. "But [Cardinal Law\] took an active role in covering up the victimisation of quite possibly hundreds of thousands of individuals."
Another alleged victim, Mr Patrick McSorley, said Cardinal Law, after years of refusing to be held accountable, had finally done something that was "right to the people and not selfish". But he added that the cardinal's resignation still left many senior church officials who have been accused of protecting abusive priests.
Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts called Cardinal Law's resignation the "right thing to do for the victims, their families, the church and the whole of the Catholic community".
New York Cardinal Edward Egan, who in April apologised for mistakes he made in handling abuse cases, said he was praying for the cardinal and the "people of God" in Boston "in this very difficult hour".
Boston attorney Mr Roderick MacLeish, who represents more than 200 alleged victims, said: "No one should believe that with the resignation of Cardinal Law this problem has ended, though this church is moving in a positive direction with this resignation. This is a day - potentially - of the start of reconciliation."
Boston lawyer Mr Mitchell Garabedian, who represents dozens of victims of abuse, called on other church leaders who shielded guilty priests to resign. "This is a step in the right direction for some victims but unfortunately too little, too late for others."
Archdiocese spokeswoman Ms Donna Morrissey said the cardinal's resignation did not end the crisis. "I don't think it's going to be over for our lifetime," she said. "We should remember it always so it doesn't happen again." - (Additional reporting AFP)