Editorial

CARDINAL LAW FINDS A PROSPERING DIOCESE

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Catholics across southern Missouri celebrated with an old friend this past weekend. Cardinal Bernard Law traveled to Cape Girardeau from Boston to observe the 25th anniversary of his ordination as a bishop. His first post as overseer was in the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese.

His return visit was a wonderful opportunity to see the new Notre Dame Regional High School as he celebrated Mass there Sunday. More than 700 people crowded into the school for the occasion.

Law heads up the sizable Archdiocese of Boston, a city that is heavily Roman Catholic. Of a population of 3.7 million people, 2 million are Catholics.

When Law was chosen as archbishop of Boston some 14 years ago, he was serving as bishop of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese.

As a bishop, Law proved an articulate spokesman for the Catholic church and Christianity. He worked to improve ecumenical relations among all southern Missourians, Catholic and non-Catholic alike.

Although he's been gone 14 years, people of the region still remember him fondly. The crowd at Sunday's Mass exemplified his continuing appeal.

As archbishop and cardinal, he holds a key position in the Catholic church. He converses frequently with Pope John Paul II, having just returned from a visit to Rome in recent weeks. He will accompany the pope on his tour to St. Louis next year.

Law brought some interesting observations of this region. He likened his return to a kind of Rip van Winkle experience. He was acutely aware of the tremendous growth in the local diocese in the last 14 years.

Aside from the new high school, St. Vincent de Paul Church has recently enlarged its building, and St. Mary Cathedral is exploring construction of an office building. Old St. Vincent's Church is packed for Mass most every Sunday. Catholic schools and programs throughout the region are prospering. That's a credit to the local churches and the diocese. It also reflects the growing importance of traditional values.

We congratulate Law on his silver anniversary as a bishop. This prince of the church remains a favorite in the hearts and minds of people in southern Missouri.