Cardinal Law, 71, is the senior Roman Catholic prelate in the United States and one of the closest to the Vatican.

"Liar," one placard said of the cardinal, the nation's senior Catholic prelate.

Like most senior prelates, the bishop was unhappy at being called away from the Temple for anything other than his twice-a-year pastoral visitation.

Like many senior medieval prelates, Beaton was in a long term relationship with a local noblewoman.

It was the second time this month that John Paul was obliged to accept the resignation of a senior prelate accused of sexual molestation.

As a result, they say, Cardinal Law, the senior American prelate, was summoned to Rome.

"He is a politician of great value," a senior prelate who has dealt with him said recently.

In private conversation between the Church's senior prelates, as well as in more official settings, and there was a hard edge to many of the discussions he'd overheard.

The cardinal, the senior American prelate in the Roman Catholic church, is the highest-ranking bishop to lose his job as a result of scandal.

As the senior American prelate, Cardinal Law would have played a role in recommending candidates to Archbishop Montalvo.