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BOSTON - Cardinal Bernard Law was appointed by the pope Thursday to a ceremonial but highly visible post in Rome, outraging many in the archdiocese Law left in disgrace at the height of the clergy sex scandal.
Law, 72, will have the title of archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica, a post often given to retired prelates.
Pope John Paul II's announcement came two days after the Boston Archdiocese said it would close at least 65 parishes as it grapples with declining collections, a shortage of priests and fallout from the scandal.
St. Mary Major is one of four basilicas under direct Vatican jurisdiction. It has an international staff of priests for the many tourists who visit the city. Law visited the basilica on Thursday.
Law was named in hundreds of lawsuits accusing him of failing to protect children from known child molesters. After 18 years leading the nation's fourth-largest archdiocese, Law resigned in 2002.
Ten months later, Law's successor, Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley, helped broker an $85-million settlement with more than 550 victims of pedophile priests.
Since his resignation, Law has served as resident chaplain at a convent in Maryland. Law has kept close ties with Rome, serving on nine Vatican congregations and councils. He also kept the title of cardinal, retaining the right to vote in papal elections until he turns 80.
Boston lawyer Mitchell Garabedian, who represents more than 130 alleged victims of sexual abuse, complained: "He apparently is being transferred to a position that is comfortable and appears to be some sort of reward. The Vatican either doesn't understand the problem of clergy sex abuse, or it doesn't care."