BOSTON (voa) - A top official of the U.S. Roman Catholic Church says protecting children should be the church's number one priority.
Cardinal Bernard Law told a Sunday morning worship service in Boston church members also should have a voice in cases of alleged sexual misconduct by priests. He added that he would relay the concerns of church members at a Vatican meeting of U.S. church officials this week.
Cardinal Law told the crowd of hundreds that despite animosity and distrust many felt toward him, he would work tirelessly to emphasize the severity posed by the crisis of pedophile priests. He also asked for prayers of support when he attends the upcoming Vatican session.
Cardinal Law, who is one of the most influential Roman Catholic officials in the United States, has been at the center of a heated controversy over the coverup of hundreds of allegations of sexual abuse by church clergy. Many angry and disappointed American Catholics have demanded his resignation, but the cardinal says he will not step down.
Pope John Paul II summoned the American cardinals to discuss the crisis, but has said little in public on the matter. However, the pontiff Sunday reminded a group of new priests at the that their profession demands high standards of morality and behavior.
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