Bernard Law, Former Archbishop Of Boston, Dies In Rome At 86
Once considered among the most influential prelates in America, the Archbishop was forced to resign amid the church's growing sex abuse scandal, which indelibly stained his reputation.
Updated at 2:30 a.m. ET
Cardinal Bernard Law, the former Archbishop of Boston â once widely seen as America's most influential prelate before resigning in disgrace amid the growing clergy sexual abuse scandal â has died in Rome.
The Holy See's press office confirmed Law's death "after a long illness." He was 86.
Law was at ground zero of the clergy sexual abuse crisis when it exploded in Boston in 2002. He remained the face of the scandal, as it swelled to the tsunami that engulfed the Catholic Church worldwide.
Law's response to the growing crisis only fueled the rage. For example, shortly after the scandal broke, he showed
