A portrait of Cardinal Law hung above the entrance of the chapel at Bishop Fenwick High School. By the year 2003, Cardinal Law's presence at the core of a sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic church had been well documented. Cardinal Law covered up the actions of child molesters, knowingly moving them to different parishes. I believed that to be worse than the pedophiles themselves. Cardinal Law's portrait hung above the entrance of the most sacred place in our school.
I started a petition to have the portrait removed. The members of the senior class that I spoke with were essentially unanimous in proclaiming, "Fuck off, Joe. I've worked my ass off for three and a half years. I've got applications out to ten colleges. The ABSOLUTE LAST PLACE I want my name right now is on your bullshit anti-establishment petition."
One of my only regrets in life thus far is not stealing that portrait. The chapel was in a far off wing of the school and I found myself with ample opportunities. I am not sure why I did not steal it. I wish I had.
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