Text of letter requesting resignation of Cardinal Law

Text of letter requesting resignation of Cardinal Law

December 9, 2002

Bernard Cardinal Law
Archbishop of Boston
2101 Commonwealth Avenue
Brighton, MA 02135

Dear Cardinal Law:

It is with a heavy heart that we write to request your resignation as Archbishop of Boston. We have valued the good work you have done here in Boston including, but not limited to: your advocacy for the homeless, your outreach to the Jewish community, your opposition to capital punishment, and your leadership in welcoming immigrant peoples. However, the events of recent months and, in particular, of these last few days, make it clear to us that your position as our bishop is so compromised that it is no longer possible for you to exercise the spiritual leadership required for the church of Boston.

As leaders of many of the parishes that make up this Archdiocese we hear from the people their call for a change in leadership. The revelations that have come to light a few days ago challenge the credibility of your public statements. The people of this Archdiocese are angry, hurt and in need of authentic spiritual leadership. We believe that despite your good work in the past you are no longer able to provide that leadership.

While this is obviously a difficult request, we believe in our hearts that this is a necessary step that must be taken if healing is to come to the Archdiocese. The priests and people of Boston have lost confidence in you as their spiritual leader.

Sincerely,

Rev. Richard C. Beaulieu, St. Mary, Winchester
Rev. James Bertelli, St. Eulalia, Winchester
Rev. Paul W. Berube, St. Mary, Chelmsford
Rev. Louis Bourgeois, St. Paul, Hamilton
Rev. Emile R. Boutin Jr., Immaculate Conception, Stoughton
Rev. Robert J. Bowers, St. Catherine of Sienna, Charlestown
Rev. James Broderick, Sacred Hearts, Haverhill
Rev. Thomas J Buckley, Holy Family, Amesbury
Rev. Timothy A. Butler, Chaplain, U.S. Air Force
Rev. Robert Bullock, Our Lady of Sorrows, Sharon
Rev. Charles E. Collins, St. John, North Cambridge
Rev. Francis M. Conroy, St. Ann, Wayland
Rev. Ron Coyne, St. Albert the Great, Weymouth
Rev. Richard J. Craig, St. John, Chelmsford
Rev. Walter H. Cuenin, Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton
Rev. Francis E. Daley, St. James, Arlington
Rev. Phillip B. Earley, St. Thomas, Wilmington
Rev. Alfred J. Ellis, O.S.A., St. Augustine, Andover
Rev. Harry J. Erdlen, O.S.A., St. Augustine, Andover
Rev. Scott A. Euvrard, St. Joseph, Needham
Rev. John P. Fitzpatrick, Deaf Community Center
Rev. Austin Fleming, Our Lady Help of Christians, Concord
Rev. John W. Gentleman, Holy Family, Amesbury
Rev. Ronald A. Gomes, Senior Priest
Rev. Francis M. Glynn, St. Anthony, Lowell
Rev. Richard Gribble, C.S.C., Stonehill College, Easton
Rev. Msgr. Michael F. Groden, St. Cecilia, Boston
Rev. Roger Haight, S.J., Weston Jesuit Community
Rev. Timothy A. Harrison, St. Ann, Gloucester
Rev. David Hollenbach, S.J., Boston College
Rev. Roger N. Jacques, St. Joseph, Waltham
Rev. Lawrence Jerge, C.S.C., Bridgewater State College
Rev. Stephen Josoma, St. Susanna, Dedham
Rev. William P. Joy, St. Angela, Mattapan
Rev. Thomas A. Kane, C.S.P., Weston Jesuit School of Theology
Rev. Timothy J. Kelleher, Blessed Sacrament, Walpole
Rev. Jim Keenan, S.J., Weston Jesuit Community
Rev. Paul E. Kilroy, St. Bernard, Newton
Rev. William M. MacKenzie, Senior Priest
Rev. Sean M. McCarthy, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Acton
Rev. Thomas A. Mahoney, Sacred Heart, Middleborough
Rev. Francis X. Mawn, St. James, Haverhill
Rev. Richard Messina, St. Mary, Winchester
Rev. Richard S. Moran, St. Bernard, Newton
Rev. Robert E. Nee, Chaplain, Children's Hospital, Boston
Rev. Scott C. Ness, O.S.A., St. Ambrose Friary, Andover
Rev. Frank O'Brien, St. George, Framingham
Rev. David M. O'Leary, Chaplain, Tufts University
Rev. Leonard F. O'Malley, St. Malachy, Burlington
Rev. Richard J. Piatt, O.S.A., St. Augustine, Andover
Rev. Marc Piche, Sacred Heart, Bradford
Rev. Daniel J. Sheehan, St. Bridgid, South Boston
Rev. Frank J. Silva, St. Ann, Wayland
Rev. William F. Waters, O.S.A., St. Mary - Immaculate Conception, Lawrence
Rev. James A. Wenzel, O.S.A., St. Ambrose Friary, Andover
Rev. William G. Williams, St. Mary of the Assumption, Hull
Rev. Walter Woods, St. Elizabeth, Acton

EDITOR'S UPDATE: It is expected that another 12 or so priests will be adding their signatures to this letter today, and that a second letter will go out with even wider dissemination than this one.

Originally published in the Boston Herald on 10 December 2002