Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston has decided not to attend next week's World Meeting of Families in Dublin due to the ongoing investigation into St John's Seminary, the Archdiocese of Boston announced on Wednesday.
Cardinal O'Malley had been set to moderate a panel and discussion at the WMOF titled “Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults.” Currently, Cardinal O'Malley is President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
In its communique on Wednesday, the archdiocese stated that he would not be able to fulfil his previous commitment in Ireland as “important matters pertaining to the pastoral care of St John's Seminary in the Archdiocese of Boston and the seminarians enrolled in the formation program there require the Cardinal's personal attention and presence.”
