L.A. Cardinal Mahony slated to testify in sex abuse trial

Contra Costa Times ^ | April 4, 2004

[NYer]

LOS ANGELES - Cardinal Roger M. Mahony is scheduled to give testimony this month in a clergy molestation lawsuit that could mark the first in a series of depositions by the leader of the nation's largest archdiocese in sex abuse cases against priests.

Mahony will give testimony April 22 in a civil case involving former priest Oliver Francis O'Grady, whom Mahony supervised two decades ago while serving as bishop of Stockton.

O'Grady was convicted of child molestation in a separate case 10 years ago and spent six years in state prison.

The lawsuit was filed by a man who said he was molested by O'Grady in the 1970s while he was attending St. Anne Catholic School in Lodi. The man has sued the Diocese of Stockton for negligence, claiming former bishops, including Mahony, transferred O'Grady to other churches despite their knowledge that the priest was a child molester.

Mahony denies that allegation.

More than 500 people who claim they were sexually assaulted as children by Catholic priests have filed negligence suits against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In the suits, the alleged victims contend church leaders did not do enough to protect children.

Mahony has not been subpoenaed in any of the Los Angeles sex abuse cases because lawyers suing the church in Southern California are under a court order that halted such actions while settlement talks continue.

"There is no reason to depose the cardinal in 520 different cases, just because every plaintiff wants a shot at the cardinal." said diocese co-counsel Donald F. Woods Jr. "We believe that is harassment."

Still, Woods said Mahony will "testify if he has to."

Victims' lawyers expect the cardinal's legal team to eventually resist their efforts to question Mahony under oath in other cases, just as they have tried to keep secret priest personnel files sought in the investigations of both civil and criminal claims.

"Mahony had a hand in deciding the career paths of each and every one of those priests," said attorney Raymond P. Boucher, whom the court appointed as liaison counsel for the plaintiffs in the Southern California cases. "He really has to confront, under penalty of perjury, the steps that he took and why he did it."

Mahony was previously called to testify about his connection to O'Grady.

In 1998, Mahony became the first U.S. cardinal to be deposed in a clergy sex abuse case and the only one ever to take the witness stand at trial, said lawyer Jeffrey R. Anderson, who represented two brothers who brought the case.

The brothers sued the Stockton Diocese for failing to protect them from O'Grady. They claimed they were sexually abused by the priest a decade after he admitted to church leaders that he had fondled an 11-year-old girl.

Mahony testified he wasn't aware of allegations against O'Grady when he transferred the priest from Sacred Heart Parish in Turlock to Church of the Presentation in Stockton.

Two years later, Mahony moved O'Grady to St. Andrew's in San Andreas, where O'Grady allegedly molested the brothers between 1987 and 1991.

The jury in that case found for the plaintiffs and recommended $30 million in damages. The amount was later reduced to $7 million.

[NYer]

They'll need to flip a lot more flapjacks to cover their legal expenses. "Breakfast at the Cathedral" - what's next!?

* * * * *

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[Desdemona]

$30 for brunch? For that price, a guided tour of the star's houses in a limo should be provided.

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[sinkspur]

What's wrong with Easter Brunch after Mass?

We have a full breakfast, served by the Knights of Columbus, the first Sunday of every month after the 7:30 and 9:00 Masses. It has become so popular that the Knights are expanding it to the third Sunday, and may include the 11:00 Mass and call it a Brunch.

Cost is $10.00 per. No alcohol, however.

We get some inquisitive folks who wander into our Catechumenate instruction at 10:30, and three or four are interested enough to return.

Of course, parking is chaotic, but so far things have worked out well. It's a wonderful thing to see hundreds of Catholics meeting each other over breakfast at the Church, rather than running off to Denny's.

[Notwithstanding]

"Decadent Dessert Table" is advertised.

There are only two ways to interpret this, and both are stupid for a church sponsored brunch:

1. The deserts are of declining quality.
2. The deserts are "Marked by or providing unrestrained gratification; self-indulgent" (as the American Heritage dictionary defines the word "decadent".

[sinkspur]

Lighten up regarding "decadent" desserts.

It's just an expression.

Sheesh!!

[Notwithstanding]

A church should not sponsor all-you-can-eat decadent stuff-your-face events.

Just like they should not sponsor gambling events or "gay" affirmation groups.

[Desdemona]

Chocolate Easter bunnies won't do?

[Notwithstanding]

Words have meanings.

"Decadent" is an expression that a church should never use to advertise what it is selling.

[NYer]

We have a full breakfast, served by the Knights of Columbus, the first Sunday of every month after the 7:30 and 9:00 Masses.

Sinkie ... I am a member of the KofC. They are a charitable organization. Mahony is not a charity. The Cathedral is equipped with a restaurant where 'Mahony' is charging $30 for breakfast! There is no comparison, my friend.

[sinkspur]

"Decadent" is an expression that a church should never use to advertise what it is selling.

What about "luscious"?

Would "scrumptious" pass muster?

Here's an idea: just cancel serving desserts, as they do nothing but make people fat anyway.

In fact, why even have the brunch at all? Perhaps the $30 could be better used giving it to the poor.

We Catholics have way too much fun anyway.

[sinkspur]

Are you saying that the proceeds from this are going in Mahoney's pocket?

I doubt that.

I just think this is much ado about very little.

[NYer]

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* * * * *

And on the same page, the following reminder

[Notwithstanding]

Source: Roget's Interactive Thesaurus, First Edition

Entry: decadent
Function: adjective
Definition: self-indulgent

Synonyms: corrupt, debased, debauched, decaying, declining, degenerate, degraded, depraved, dissolute, effete, evil, gone bad, immoral, moribund, overripe, wanton, wicked

Antonyms: benevolent, good, humble, kind, moral

Concept: immorality

[Notwithstanding]

Bob Barker:

What about accountability of bishops? Mahony is one of the most unaccountable and theiving of the lot.

[Notwithstanding]

Sinkspur (Mr. Barker) is as flip-floppy as John Faux Kerry.

[sinkspur]

What about accountability of bishops?

I thought we were talking about decadent desserts?

[Notwithstanding]

You had mentioned that Mahony was trustworthy with cash and that this was much ado about nothing.

Accountability with cash is not "nothing".

Literally promoting decadence is also not "nothing".

[sinkspur]

You had mentioned that Mahony was trustworthy with cash

Where on earth did I ever say that? I have no idea whether Mahoney is trustworthy with cash.