NCR: Story on National Black CatholicCongress IX

NCR had good coverage on the Congress, here's an interesting snippet.

Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston, the most visible symbol of the hierarchy’s failure to curb abuse, received warm applause as his presence at the congress was officially acknowledged.

“No one should be surprised at that reaction,” Sr. Anita Baird, president of the National Black Sisters Conference, told NCR. “Black Catholics have long memories. Law was one priest in the 1960s who spoke out for us in Mississippi. He has come to all four of our congresses [held every five years since 1987], and he’s a friend to the black community.” Baird, a member of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary, said black reaction to Law’s problems is like their reaction to those of former President Bill Clinton. “It doesn’t mean we condone wrongdoing or don’t think people should be held accountable,” she said. “But when Clinton was being clobbered by Congress and by most of the nation, we remembered all the people he put into positions of authority and the black leaders who had access to him. As a matter of fact, he is still our president.”

FYI, it really was interesting to see Cardinal Law at the National Black Catholic Congress, he was very relaxed and did seem comfortable. He has generally been considered a friend of the black Catholic community and it was evident.

I do recall him once getting up during the USCCB November meetings in Washington, D.C. and requesting that the Bishops produce a document with an official apology for condoning slavery. Like Sr. Baird says, the black community has a very long memory and it remembers when people stand up for them and the community will support that person long afterwards. And like she says, this is why many black people have a soft spot for Clinton, including myself. This was the one U.S. president of recent times who seemed to genuinely care about African Americans and the community would be hard pressed to forget that.