LA cardinal asks U.S. Supreme Court to keep priest files private

AP ^ | 2/2/6

[SmithL]

Los Angeles (AP) --

The head of the Los Angeles Roman Catholic archdiocese asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let the church keep priest personnel records out of the hands of investigators in a sex abuse probe.

Attorneys for Cardinal Roger M. Mahony filed the petition on Thursday, arguing that giving prosecutors private records on two priests would violate the constitutional separation of church and state.

The petition follows a decision by the California Supreme Court last year that the archdiocese must produce the files, which were subpoenaed three years ago.

"What is most important from the perspective of Cardinal Mahony and the archdiocese is the protection of his continued ability to have confidential, and what we call sacred, communication with his priests," . . .

[brooklyn dave]

OK the cardinal would have to prove (how could he?) that all communication was done under the seal of the confession.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

When I saw that headline, I knew which Cardinal...

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I mean, when I saw cardinal asks supreme court...I didn't read the LA until after I posted...

[sitetest]

Dear brooklyn dave,

"OK the cardinal would have to prove (how could he?) that all communication was done under the seal of the confession."

I'm not sure that's the case. I think all he has to do is show that the communications are part of the administration of a religious organization, the administration thereof which is beyond the jurisdiction of the courts, because of the First Amendment.

The courts have traditionally been reluctant to get "inside" the administration of religious bodies. Whether he can successfully argue that the prosecutors are trying to go where they have no business being is another question entirely.


sitetest

[Dog Gone]

Attorneys for Cardinal Roger M. Mahony filed the petition on Thursday, arguing that giving prosecutors private records on two priests would violate the constitutional separation of church and state.

If that argument flies, then anything done on church property is also beyond scrutiny of the government.

Since we're talking about religion and not just Catholics with that principle, anything done within a mosque would be beyond scrutiny. Anything.

[siunevada]

Attorneys for Cardinal Roger M. Mahony filed the petition on Thursday, arguing that giving prosecutors private records on two priests would violate the constitutional separation of church and state.

I guess that's why they get the big bucks. Hard to keep a straight face when proposing that as an argument.

[Deo volente]

Meanwhile, in other news...there are no liturgical violations in the Archdiocese, according to Cardinal Mahony.

[jecIIny]

I don't think this is going to fly. Meanwhile it raises serious questions. What is Roger trying to hide? Inquiring minds want to know...

[TaxachusettsMan]

What gets into you?

"Inquiring minds" who now belong to another Church want to know what their ex-Church is up to?

If you're joining the OCA, they'd be the first to tell you that there's enough dirty laundry in their sacristies and other places to keep your "inquiring mind" busy for years to come.

And catechumens ought to show respect for their ex-religion, even if they don't like or even respect the hierarch in question.

Thus, even for an Orthodox, it's Cardinal Mahony, not Roger.

Or do you want to start discussing what "Theo" was hiding when the OCA money disappeared?

[Salvation]

Hmmmmm.

[onyx]

ME TOO!

[Salvation]

**Inquiring minds want to know...**

We have been asking and asking for how long now?

[SmithL]

OK, I'll admit to ignorance. What are we seeing here?

[jecIIny]

"What gets into you?

"Inquiring minds" who now belong to another Church want to know what their ex-Church is up to?

If you're joining the OCA, they'd be the first to tell you that there's enough dirty laundry in their sacristies and other places to keep your "inquiring mind" busy for years to come.

And catechumens ought to show respect for their ex-religion, even if they don't like or even respect the hierarch in question.

Thus, even for an Orthodox, it's Cardinal Mahony, not Roger.

Or do you want to start discussing what "Theo" was hiding when the OCA money disappeared?"

The fact that I am entering Orthodoxy does not mean that I am disinterested in what goes in the Catholic Church. Unlike some converts I am not leaving with bitter feelings. On the contrary I have a great deal of respect for Rome even if I have profound theological differences with her. What goes on the world's largest Christian church impacts Orthodoxy (even if some on this side of the fence would rather not admit that). His Eminence the Lord Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, Archbishop Roger Cardinal Mahoney of Los Angeles (to use his proper title), is a Protestant masquerading as a Catholic Prelate as I think you may have observed once or twice yourself (if not perhaps in those exact words). The injury he is doing to your church will have effects beyond the borders of the Catholic Church.

There are serious conversations going on about settling some very old differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. One of the major reservations that a lot of Orthodox have about reunification (though few will say this to non-Orthodox) is the chaos in the Catholic Church. The thought of entering communion with a church where almost 70% of "Catholics" in recent polls said women should be ordained as priests frankly terrifies a lot of Orthodox (including me). Thats why we (and I) have an interest in whats going on in the west. My disrespect was aimed squarely at His Eminence, and not at your church as a whole. I think +Benedict XVI is the best thing to happen to the Catholic Church since... well John Paul II. But before him you'd have to go back about 400 years.

As for the dirty laundry in the OCA, I am completely comfortable discussing anything you want. In fact if you check the post about the financial irregularities you will find that I was the one who posted it. But just a small note on the subject of the OCA's issues. They involve missing money. Not heresy.

[Deo volente]

What we are seeing in the photo is a gross liturgical violation, which is perpetrated daily here in Los Angeles at scores of parishes.
With the blessing of Cardinal Mahony.

some background:

http://www.losangelesmission.com/ed/articles/2004/0411cz.htm


Read it and pray for us here in Los Angeles, please.

[kstewskis]

I mean, when I saw cardinal asks supreme court...I didn't read the LA until after I posted...

Sure, but your gut feeling is a gut feeling for a reason, isn't it? ;o)

[kstewskis]

LOL! #17 was meant for you two also!

[Desdemona]

What a snake. Nothing to hide, eh, Rog? There were some mistakes under Jadot when it came to bishops, but Mahoney was definitely the worst.

How long til he's 75?

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Sadly, I must say, yep.