Law shows hes still a hardliner on doctrine
during Toronto appearance
By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Toronto
If anyone thought that months of unrelenting pressure related to
the sex abuse scandals would soften Boston Cardinal Bernard Laws tough
doctrinal line, some 600 young people who followed him to Toronto learned
otherwise July 27.
The youth, in turn, gave him a rousing show of support, though a
few were obviously not ready to join the pro-Law chorus.
During a catechetical session with Boston youth taking part in the
July 23-30 World Youth Day festival, Law did not discuss the upheaval that has
led to wide calls for his resignation. But he did address questions on
homosexuality and women priests, and he did not deviate a whit from his
familiar conservative stands.
Law was asked how to put church teaching on homosexuality into
action.
We cant do things that seem to confirm a public act
that is in defiance of the teaching of Jesus and the church, he said.
It would be inappropriate to support any organized efforts
to say it doesnt make any difference, that its a matter of personal
choice, Law told the young people. Our choices have to be in line
with Gods choices.
Were counter-cultural on this, Law added.
This is not what the rich and powerful are saying.
The session with Boston youth took place at St. Benedicts
parish on the outskirts of Toronto, far from the downtown sites where most
World Youth Day events took place.
When Law walked in, the young people, who tended to be drawn from
the ranks of the most committed Catholic families, exploded into applause,
giving their cardinal a standing ovation. They clapped, cheered, and pounded
the wooden pews. They then broke into chants of Cardinal Law, Cardinal
Law.
Louis Merosne, 17, rose and told Law that he wanted to thank him
for being a good father to the archdiocese.
I was thinking of all the problems hes had,
Merosne told NCR afterwards. He is doing a good job as cardinal,
especially under such pressure.
Perhaps buoyed by the positive energy, Law seemed more upbeat and
relaxed than he has appeared in months.
P.J. Davis, 16, asked Law about women priests.
What do you think my answer is going to be? Law
joked.
Its not that I dont think they should be
ordained, but that they cant be, he said. Jesus established
this order for the priesthood and it is the unbroken tradition of the church of
both West and East.
The priest is in his ministry an icon of Christ. He serves
in the person of Christ, who happens to have been a male child, Law said.
He then speculated that perhaps God arranged things this way to help the male
become more peaceful, less aggressive.
The fact that female figures such as Virgin Mary, St. Catherine,
and St. Térèse of Lisieux were not priests, he said did not
diminish their prophetic role in the church.
In any event, Law said, the teaching will stay the way it is.
Some people think this will change under the next
pope, Law said. Its not going to happen.
To think in
these terms is to deceive oneself and to waste ones time and
energy.
Law acknowledged that some Catholic theologians challenge the ban
on women priests, but suggested that this isnt their job.
The work of theology is not to set itself against the faith
of the church, but to take that faith as a starting point, he said.
Yet Law good not entirely escape the shadow of his recent
troubles, even here in Toronto.
I cant stand hypocrites, said Michael, 19, a
Boston youth who asked that his last name not be cited. He chose to stand
outside the church, with a handful of other delegates, in a gentle rain when
Law arrived.
He preaches compassion and justice, but has done nothing but
dodge and cover up, he said of Law. If hes so concerned with
young people, why was he putting those guys back into parishes? he asked,
referring to priests who were reassigned by Law after sexually abusing
children.
Asked if he felt Law should resign, Michael hesitated, then
replied: He should be shunted off to Rome and given some cozy post. Let
him stay there. We need some fresh blood.
John L. Allen Jr. is NCRs Vatican correspondent.
His e-mail address is jallen@natcath.org.
National Catholic Reporter, August 16,
2002
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