VATICAN CITY -- Cardinal Bernard Law, who resigned in disgrace from the archdiocese of Boston due to his role in a sexual abuse scandal that badly damaged the Catholic Church nationwide, has been chosen by his fellow cardinals to preside at one of the most prominent Masses to be offered for the late Pope John Paul II.

Law was selected to preside and preach Monday at 5 p.m. in St. Peter's Basilica. It will be the fourth of nine days of funeral Masses for John Paul at St. Peter's.

The announcement from Archbishop Piero Marini, the Vatican's chief liturgist, indicated that Law, who last year was named archpriest of the patriarchal Basilica of St. Mary Major, was chosen to represent the major patriarchal basilicas. Each cardinal who preaches during the so-called Novendiales -- nine days -- is supposed to represent some important ancient or contemporary aspect of the church.

Although Law no longer has the responsibility for a diocese, he kept all of his assignments within the Vatican bureaucracy and is eligible to vote for the next pope. He is the only U.S. cardinal chosen to preside at one of the Novendiales.

Key American cardinals and archbishops, who have been otherwise quite talkative this week, responded to the news with frosty silence.

"I really can't comment about that," said Archbishop Sean O'Malley of Boston, the Capuchin who replaced Law in 2002 and has arranged to pay $85 million to those who were molested as minors by Boston priests. Law's downfall came because he kept known molesters in ministry.

Many thought O'Malley would be made a cardinal in 2003. A major theory for why he was not was that the Vatican wanted to ensure that his primary responsibility was to heal the wounds in Boston, rather than watch over the universal church. Thus he will not help select the next pope, but Law will.

"The selection of various people is not for me to comment on," said Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia. Asked whether Law's appointment was intended as a statement about forgiveness and Easter faith in renewal, Rigali responded that the church indeed preaches Easter faith, but "I have no comment on the other."

But Law's selection for such a visible role is likely to be controversial, particularly to American Catholics, because of his association with the scandal that erupted in Boston after hundreds of people accused clergy of molesting them, observers said.

"Unfortunately, Cardinal Law has become emblematic of the clergy-child abuse scandal in the United States, fairly or not," said Nicholas Cafardi, dean of the Duquesne University School of Law and chairman of the U.S. bishops' National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People, which oversees the bishops' response to child sexual abuse by priests.

"A public role for him in the consistory will unfortunately cause sorrow to many Catholics who have been injured by the church's inattention to this very serious problem," Cafardi said yesterday.

Law's selection saddened some critics of the church's handling of the abuse scandal and infuriated others, saying it signified a lack of understanding of the pain suffered by abuse victims.

"It's an insult. A lot of my family is still Catholic and it's an insult," said Paul J. Dorsch, who in 2001 sued the Pittsburgh diocese and a former priest after accusing the priest of molesting him while he was a student at Quigley High School in Beaver County.

"[Law] moved around [the Rev. Paul Shanley], one of the most infamous child molesters this country has known, so you just have to scratch your head and wonder what's going on," Dorsch said. "The Catholic Church really shows how out of touch it is with what's going on here in the States."

In a statement yesterday, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) called on Law to step aside and allow another cardinal to celebrate Monday's Mass.

"Law should have the courtesy, decency, and humility to step aside voluntarily, out of deference to the well-being of clergy sex abuse victims, their loved ones, and the laity in the U.S.," said Mary Grant of Long Beach, Calif., a member of the group's national board. "If he doesn't, we can only hope that bishops and cardinals around the world will vehemently object to this hurtful decision and insist that Law be replaced."

Noting that Law has been visible at other public functions and gatherings in Rome since the Pope's death, the survivors group's leaders said his presence may distract faithful Catholics from reflection on the Pope's legacy.

"Out of sensitivity and respect for those families who continue to suffer because of his cover-ups, and in a spirit of genuine contrition, Law should avoid the public limelight," national director David Clohessy said. "Thousands of caring Catholic and wounded victims, however, find it hard to [focus on the Pope] when Law is apparently exploiting this sad moment for his own hurtful rehabilitation attempt."

SNAP officials also urged church leaders to discourage Law's public participation in upcoming church events.

"Bishops and cardinals across the globe, especially in America, should forcefully speak out now on behalf of the wounded, and insist that Law put the memory of John Paul II and the needs of clergy abuse victims above his own self-aggrandizement," he said.

But a former seminary classmate and longtime friend of Law said he believes Law has been unfairly vilified and sees no reason why Law should not celebrate the Mass Monday.

The Rev. Edward L. Hoffman, a local priest on medical leave, said he spoke with Law about the scandal during a visit last year to St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe.

"I know him like a brother. I've known him since 1955 and we get together every two or three years," said Hoffman. "He told me he never knowingly assigned any priest without being assured by his staff that they were fit for active ministry. I believe him."

Many American priests in Rome will not discuss Law publicly. Privately, they say, he is virtually ostracized by most American clergy in Rome, who think he should have retired quietly to a monastery as he said he would. The coldness toward him is said not to be personal dislike, but because they believe his connection to the scandal will continue to damage the church if he remains in public.

However, one very powerful American who is said to remain close to Law is Archbishop James Harvey, a Milwaukee native who, as head of the papal household, was among those closest to John Paul.