Protesters demand Boston Cardinal's resignation

BOSTON - Demonstrators carried protest signs and sang hymns Sunday outside Cardinal Bernard Law&#39;s residence, demanding his resignation because of his handling of allegations that priests sexually abused children.<br> <br> Calls for Law&#39;s resignation have intensified since he admitted he transferred defrocked priest John Geoghan to other churches after learning of sexual abuse accusations against him.<br> <br> &#34;Law Breaks Law - Resign&#34; said one sign Sunday. Another said, &#34;Jesus Wept.&#34;<br> <br> Among the demonstrators was Steven Lynch, 42, who said he was sexually abused by a priest in Salem when he was 9. Tears ran down his face as he demanded Law&#39;s resignation as spiritual leader of Boston&#39;s Catholic community.<br> <br> &#34;A father does not trick or deceive his sons and daughters,&#34; Lynch said before the group of about 75 protesters. &#34;A father does not fill his children with fear, shame, guilt or darkness. A father does not disempower his own children in order to be empowered himself.&#34;<br> <br> Geoghan is awaiting sentencing for sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy. At least 130 people have accused Geoghan of abuse. He faces two more criminal trials and more than 80 civil lawsuits.<br> <br> Calls to a spokeswoman for the Boston Archdiocese were not immediately returned Sunday. Law has said he will not step down.<br> <br> The archdiocese has said it recently gave prosecutors the names of more than 80 active and former priests suspected of sexual abuse.<br> <br> Meanwhile, Ken Hokenson, the archdiocese&#39;s chief development officer, told The Boston Sunday Globe that &#34;less than two dozen&#34; of 4,000 donors to a capital fund had rescinded their pledges because of the scandal.<br> <br> Hokenson estimated their pledges represented about one-half of one percent of the $150 million pledged so far, or about $75,000. <br> <br>

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