National Review Board Rebukes Cardinal Mahony

Los Angeles Mission ^ | CHRISTOPHER ZEHNDER

[NYer]

Grievously Sinful

National Review Board Rebukes Cardinal Mahony

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BY CHRISTOPHER ZEHNDER

The National Review Board, a group a prominent laymen investigating reports of sexual misconduct by priests, in a February 27 report castigated the American bishops in general for their handling of the sexual abuse crisis, but singled out four bishops by name. One of these was Cardinal Roger Mahony. "The inaction of those bishops who failed to protect their people from predators was. grievously sinful," said the report. "Somehow, the 'smoke of Satan' was allowed to enter the church, and as a result the church itself has been deeply wounded." But addressing the archdiocese of Los Angeles, the report said that "after allegations were made that Cardinal Mahony had allowed numerous predator priests to remain in the ministry, the archdiocese engaged in a very public spat with law enforcement agencies who questioned his level of cooperation in the criminal investigation. The archdiocese resisted grand jury subpoenas ... by arguing that communications between priests and bishops were privileged."

But in a "Report to the People of God: Clergy Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 1930-2003," the archdiocese of Los Angeles defended itself against charges of obstructing investigations, saying it "has cooperated and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement authorities in connection with grand jury investigations in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties." The report, published in the February 27 Tidings, said that all personnel documents subpoenaed by the Los Angeles County grand jury had been turned over to "a retired judge "acting as a referee." (This was done late last summer.) This "referee," said the archdiocesan report, "is resolving the claims of privilege but to date has not issued a decision regarding any of the objections by the Archdiocese or individual priests."

The "privileges" about which the archdiocesan report speaks refer to claims made by the archdiocese that "all personnel files are private, protected by the California Constitution, and may not be produced over the priest's objection until a court has weighed the need for production against the individual's privacy rights." The archdiocese, too, says the report, "has objected to production of records that disclose the spiritual, pastoral and psychological counseling of the priests. The Archdiocese believes that the particular needs of the Catholic faith and the deeply private needs of its priests demand the right to private communication between Bishop and clergy on any topic, no matter how personal, without fear of intrusion by criminal or civil litigants. The Archdiocese believes the privilege goes to the heart of every Catholic's ability to practice the religion." According to the report, "the Archdiocese believes that many of these sensitive records are covered by California Evidence Code privileges for communications with psychotherapists and clergy. Others, the Archdiocese believes, should be free from government interference under the First Amendment guarantee of the free exercise of religion."

[NYer]

Mahony Bump!

[Salvation]

**Grievously Sinful** = Mahoney!

[Desdemona]

Oh, hey, now there's a stunner.

I wonder who the other three were.

[pseudo-ignatius]

I wonder who the other three were.

As am I. Did these other three include bishops who are already out of office, like Cardinal Law, or is it only current installed bishops that are picked out?

[pseudo-ignatius]

Err, as do I. oops

[NeoCaveman]

Just a rebuke? Well it is a start.

[narses]

"Somehow, the 'smoke of Satan' was allowed to enter the church, and as a result the church itself has been deeply wounded."

"Somehow, the 'smoke of Satan' was allowed to enter the church, and as a result the church itself has been deeply wounded."

"Somehow, the 'smoke of Satan' was allowed to enter the church, and as a result the church itself has been deeply wounded."

[NeoCaveman]

"Somehow, the 'smoke of Satan' was allowed to enter the church, and as a result the church itself has been deeply wounded."

Once more for emphasis.

[narses]

"Somehow, the 'smoke of Satan' was allowed to enter the church, and as a result the church itself has been deeply wounded."

"Somehow, the 'smoke of Satan' was allowed to enter the church, and as a result the church itself has been deeply wounded."


"Somehow, the 'smoke of Satan' was allowed to enter the church, and as a result the church itself has been deeply wounded."


One good turn deserves Three more.

[thegreatbeast]

I'm sure to catch Hell here but everybody should be extremely wary of allowing access to records of a personal nature. That is a matter that should observe the strictest legalities.

[nickcarraway]

So the report signaled out Mahony, ultimately it just sound and fury, signifying nothing.

[ultima ratio]

Somehow?

We should all know how by now. Vatican II opened the floodgates. Anybody who denies this is lying to himself/herself.

[broadsword]

So the report signaled out Mahony, ultimately it just sound and fury, signifying nothing.

As a result, the Vatican will probably give Maphoney a special award, heaps of praise, greater access to nubile little boys, a bigger stick to hit traditionalists with... and...

and...

an even bigger miter!

Yeay! Yahoooo! Yeay! Hooorah!

Come on, children, wipe those tears away and cheer with us! Yeaaaaaaaaay! We'll have a gay old time!

(Where are we going, and why am I in this handbasket?)

[broadsword]

So the report signaled out Mahony, ultimately it just sound and fury, signifying nothing.

As a result, the Vatican will probably give Maphoney a special award, heaps of praise, greater access to nubile little boys, a bigger stick to hit traditionalists with... and...

and...

an even bigger miter!

Yeay! Yahoooo! Yeay! Hooorah!

Come on, children, wipe those tears away and cheer with us! Yeaaaaaaaaay! We'll have a gay old time!

(Where are we going, and why am I in this handbasket?)

[broadsword]

Aw cripes! Double post. Dump my second, please. Thanks.

[Ant_biter]

"Somehow, the 'smoke of Satan' was allowed to enter the church, and as a result the church itself has been deeply wounded."

Deeply wounded, really?

Well, what kind of a true church is it if Satan does not even bother or attempt to destroy it? The church will survive as in the past since the day when it was created.

[broadsword]

Oooooohhhhhh! You sound like one of those eeeeeevil pre-concular thinkers. Shame, shame! Don't you know that the whole Church was an eeeeeevil institution until the new advent of free love, gay masses, clown masses, the Gospel of Feminism, the Gospel of Karl Marx and the saving wonders of new age philosophy?

Just what is wrong with you? Why can't you get with it and be up with the times. This is the bright new pagan world now. Crawl out of those pre-concular dark ages!

Hari, Hari. Lordy Krishna! Hey, I want to join the mob to hand out those wafers, too, but not until I get done playing Twister for the Lord's Prayer. (I really like those druid robes and that special medalion. It makes me feel so important!)

[broadsword]

We all know it will survive. People (some anyway) are just angry about those who tear it asunder, lead people astray and prey upon innocent children with impunity, while the Vatican fiddles and the Church burns.

[MindFire]

You said: "I'm sure to catch Hell here but everybody should be extremely wary of allowing access to records of a personal nature. That is a matter that should observe the strictest legalities."


I have to agree with you. this whole thing about cheering/promoting the state authority over the church, is not the answer to this problem. the church might have rotten apples in it, but to promote state authority over the church makes me VERY leery.

it almost seems like the whole thing is a satanic trap. there is evil in the church, so therefore the solution is to have the govt intrude into the church? already, some lawmakers wanted to infringe on the seal of confession.

I don't know who would let their child alone with a priest nowdays, anyway.
that sounds mean, but i cant help it. given what the situation is with the seminaries, etc. Blah!