by 2002, in the midst of scandals, mass attendance around the archdiocese declines from around 17.5% in 2001 to a little less than 15% the following year. the catholic appeal, one of the archdiocese's main fundraising tools, took a harder hit, going from $17 million raised in 2001 to $8 million the year later. the archdiocesan budget deficits that came with this caused bernard cardinal law, boston's archbishop, to consider parish and school closings. on 13 december 2002, cardinal law resigned from office and left boston for rome shortly after, allegedly hours before state troopers with subpoenas arrived to seek jury testimony. on july 1, 2003, seán o'malley was appointed the new archbishop.