Bernard Law, Powerful Cardinal Disgraced by Priest Abuse Scandal, Dies at 86 Cardinal Bernard Law at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City in 2005. DEC. 19, 2017 Cardinal Bernard F. Law, whose stature as archbishop of Boston and America’s senior Roman Catholic prelate was shattered in a maelstrom of scandal, acrimony and resignation in 2002 after revelations that he had protected abusive priests for years, died Wednesday. He was 86 and lived in Rome. The Vatican confirmed the death in a news release. [...] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/obituaries/cardinal-bernard-law-dead.html