Gingrich attends funeral of disgraced US cardinal in Rome

U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See-designate Callista Gingrich attended the funeral of the disgraced Cardinal Bernard Law in Rome on Thursday. 

Gingrich, who attended the service at St. Peter’s Basilica with her husband former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), told The Atlantic she and her husband were “blessed to be here today. [Law] was a dear friend.”

Gingrich is set to officially assume her ambassadorship Friday. 

{mosads}Law, who is the former archbishop of Boston, apologized in 2002 for his role in covering up sex abuse by priests in the Catholic Church. The cardinal was accused of covering up numerous cases of rape and molestation, although he never faced criminal charges. However, he resigned as archbishop of Boston.

Former Pope John Paul II, in a controversial move, then appointed Law to an Archpriest position in Rome two years later.

Law died in Rome on Wednesday. 

Pope Francis and the Vatican have come under fire for granting Law a standard Vatican funeral. 

Law’s Boston successor Cardinal Sean O’Malley acknowledged the “wide range of emotions” the Vatican’s decision prompted, but pointed to the civil rights legacy left earlier in Law’s priesthood.

“I think that it’s unfortunate that he’s had such a high-profile place in the life of the church, but I think going forward that kind of decision would not be made,” O’Malley told reporters in a news conference Wednesday.

Sexual abuse survivors also criticized Pope Francis, who has condemned the church’s role in any sex abuse.

“Pope Francis talks a good game, but he never comes through. He talks about caring about survivors, but he really doesn’t,” survivor Ann Hagan Webb told The Washington Post. 

“He makes these grand announcements and everyone thinks he’s progressive, but when it comes to this issue, over and over again he has not lived up to his promises,” she said.