He is not to come to this church any more

Italian media is reporting that Boston’s disgraced former archbishop, Cardinal Bernard Law, 81, is being banished from his cushy residence in Rome by Pope Francis, according to the British tabloid The Daily Mail.

Law resigned as Archbishop of Boston in 2002, after being accused of covering up sexual abuse committed by priests in his archdiocese. Despite the magnitude of the scandal, Law was given an honorary position at the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, in Rome.

The newspaper reports that upon hearing that the new Pope was offering prayers at the very same church, Law could not resist “a discreet peak.”

When Law’s appearance threatened to cast a shadow over Francis’s first engagement, the newspaper reports that the new Pope banned Law from his own church.

Francis went on to command: “He is not to come to this church any more,” according to the newspaper.

One of the new Pope’s first acts will be to arrange new “cloistered accommodation” for Law, the Italian daily, Il Fatto Quotidiano, reported, according to The Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail also reports that Francis’s firm stance was greeted with cautious enthusiasm by advocates for victims of sexual abuse.

David Clohessey of Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said: “If he is permanently banned we are slightly encouraged,” according to the newspaper.