Church accused of hiding abuse from cops, public

TIMES UNION ^ | August 18, 2002 | GLENN F. BUNTING, RALPH FRAMMOLINO and RICHARD WINTON

[NYer]

LOS ANGELES -- Faced with allegations that parish priests sexually abused minors, the Los Angeles Archdiocese under Cardinal Roger Mahony for many years withheld information from police and allowed clerics facing prosecution to flee to foreign countries, internal records and interviews show.

At the same time, Mahony has been more aggressive than many U.S. bishops in dismissing members of the clergy. According to newly obtained information, the cardinal removed 17 priests from ministry during the last decade who had either admitted molesting minors or faced credible allegations of doing so.

In recent months, as the Catholic Church has struggled with the sex abuse scandal, Mahony has backed the ouster of all sex offenders from the priesthood.

But an examination of sexual abuse cases during his tenure in Los Angeles since 1985 shows that the archdiocese also worked to hush up a growing problem. The Los Angeles Times examination found:

Five parish priests fled the country and one disappeared after learning of complaints that they had sexually abused underage victims. Two of the clergymen left after a top aide to Mahony informed them of allegations and a third was told to join the priesthood in the Philippines. Of the six, two are fugitives.

Police complained in two cases that church officials had hampered criminal investigations by refusing to cooperate. In one inquiry, Long Beach police say, they were turned away from archdiocese headquarters when they asked for help. "The door was shut in our face," said Long Beach Detective Randi Castillo, a 26-year veteran who led an investigation in the mid-1990s of a popular pastor who allegedly had molested at least 10 altar boys. "This was absolutely something I had never encountered in all my years in law enforcement."

Two convicted sex offenders were allowed to continue serving as priests for years before Mahony dismissed them in February in response to the growing furor over clergy sex abuse. Both priests resided at parishes within walking distance of Catholic elementary schools, where administrators and parents were not informed of their criminal backgrounds.

The archdiocese has agreed to four out-of-court settlements totaling $9.2 million since 2000. The archdiocese's share of the cost was $3.7 million. The agreements included confidentiality clauses to keep the sexual abuses secret.

The archdiocese routinely failed to report errant priests to authorities until 1997, when a new California law compelled clergy to disclose all allegations of sexual abuse of minors. Before the legislation was passed, a top aide to Mahony discouraged at least three alleged victims from going to police.

Now, Mahony and the archdiocese are bracing for possible indictments of 15 current and former priests on felony sex charges, according to law enforcement sources. In addition, the archdiocese is facing a class-action suit, filed last month, seeking millions of dollars.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley called Mahony's characterization "disingenuous."

"The historic culture of the archdiocese in cooperating with local law enforcement has been inadequate and flawed," Cooley said.

[NYer]

What will Roger Mahony's legacy be? The $163 million dollar Cathedral or the $____million spend in lawsuits.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

In recent months, as the Catholic Church has struggled with the sex abuse scandal, Mahony has backed the ouster of all sex offenders from the priesthood.

Protege tuam pugam - Cover your a**.

Mahony is an evil person and someone should do a thorough search of his closet for skeletons.

[Desdemona]

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Glad to see the spotlight, or sould I say searchlight, finally on him. He needs to go.

[FITZ]

All pedophiles and those who help them avoid prosecution need to be put in prison. Not just the priests either but all.

[redhead]

"Church accused of hiding abuse from cops, public"

So now, phony Mahony is "THE CHURCH." This is one of those articles I'm happy to see because it shines the light on this miserable astard-bay, but I'm also sorry to see it because it is just one more exposure of the corruption and evil in the heirarchy. I keep praying that we will finally root out the last evil bishop, but the rot is deeper than even I imagined.

[american colleen]

Thanks for the ping.

I think this sums it up: "Two convicted sex offenders were allowed to continue serving as priests for years before Mahony dismissed them in February in response to the growing furor over clergy sex abuse. "

To me, it appears Mahony only acted when he was forced to act, once the accused priest was known to the public. If the priest's name was not made public, he let them stay or let them have the opportunity to go elsewhere to prey on boys.

It makes me nervous that "Mahony has backed the ouster of all sex offenders from the priesthood." - I just, God forgive me, don't trust him (plus, his actions make a lie of his public embrace of the above statement). I see his support of this as a means for him to get rid of any priest that might not conform to his own idea of a priest.

I would have given Mahony the benefit of the doubt but one of the Catholic Caucus posters who I respect quite a bit doesn't trust Mahony either. Plus, all you have to do it look at what he has done with the "Taj Mahony" in LA. I think it is blasphemous and the money spent is way beyond reasonable - I wonder how many schools and Churches have been closed in LA due to lack of funds?

[Desdemona]

Red, take comfort in the fact that the more this is exposed, the more the less cynical among us are forced to believe that this is really going on. I can't stand Mahoney and the people in my sphere believe it's just over the church music mess. No, there's so much more to it.

It's time for him to go. He won't go on his own accord, that's for sure. He'll be removed.

[VOA]

What will Roger Mahony's legacy be? The $163 million dollar Cathedral or the $____million spend in lawsuits.

Both.
I'm here in Los Angeles...the best, continuing reportage on Mahoney and the
Los Angeles portion of this scandal has been done by the free weekly, NewTimesLA
(IIRC, at www.newtimesla.com).

NewTimesLA has covered lots of the scandals that have involved Mahoney and given
plenty of coverage to the building of the "butt-ugly" new cathedral, aka "The Taj Mahoney".
(The "butt-ugly" is a general opinon by LOTS of LA-area Catholics and the great unwashed
who appreciate good architecture, even if they've never stepped into a house of worship.)

NewTimesLA has produced good reportage on the priest scandal, Scientology, and
even a good, balanced report on the conection between Pepperdine University,
the affiliated mainstream Churches of Christ (my spiritual background) and
Richard Mellon Scaife (sp?).

And venerable Freepers will verify that while I'm on the more "Protestant" side of the aisle,
I only comment on the priest scandals with the hope that the Roman Catholic church will
endure the storm and renew it's place as a spiritual anchor for millions of my fellow citizens.

[Palladin]

That sunnuvabitch Mahony! How long is he going to get away with it? Where are God's just punishments for the likes of him?

[Be active]

I heard Michael Jackson is retiring. He's becoming a Priest and a spokesman for the Catholic Church.

[NYer]

"butt-ugly" new cathedral, aka "The Taj Mahoney".

You mean this atrocity?

Grand Opening - September 3, 2002, with or without the cardinal.

[VOA]

You mean this atrocity?

Yep, that's the one (as best I can see from the graphic).
Incredibly expensive...and the exterior is less interesting that a lot of
industrial warehouses.

Personally, what I find interesting is that the steel skeleton of what is becoming
the Disney Music Hall (only a block or so from the Taj Mahoney) was a MUCH more
beautiful and inspired bit of art. Too bad that it has to be covered by the actual
completion of the building.

[WaterDragon]

The arrogance of these church leaders, to consider themselves above the law, is simply breathtaking. They should all be charged, convicted and locked up. Since they feel so protective toward child rapists, they should spend their years in cells with child rapists.

Protect society from them all.