Bernard Francis Law

Bernard Francis Law was a Mexican-born American prelate of the Catholic Church who, among other offices, served as Archbishop of Boston from 1984 to 2002. Originally considered an influential voice among American Catholic hierarchy and the wider Boston society as a supporter of church orthodoxy and social justice, along with his work in ecumenism and civil rights, his image was dramatically changed after the 2002 exposé of his involvement in covering up the serial rape of children by Catholic priests, which led to his resignation as Archbishop of Boston in December of that year. Prior to that office, Law served as Bishop of Springfield–Cape Girardeau from 1973 to 1984. He also served as Cardinal Priest of Santa Susanna from 1985 to his death in 2017, and as archpriest of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore from 2004 to 2011, these being largely ceremonial roles.