"Don't you dare scratch that throne."
Posted on 06/28/2005 3:49:01 PM PDT by NYer
A man protesting the Los Angeles Archdiocese's handling of the clergy sexual abuse scandal was arrested Sunday after he handcuffed himself to the chair used by Cardinal Roger Mahony during 10 a.m. Mass.
The incident happened while Mahony was standing a few feet away at the altar and had just delivered a homily to 2,500 congregants about how the archdiocese is dealing with the controversy.
The protester, James C. Robertson, 58, of Mount Washington, was part of a group of about 200 victims and their supporters who had demonstrated outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels by tying crime scene tape around themselves and the church's perimeter.
The protesters - from the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, or SNAP - staged the demonstration to commemorate clergy sex abuse victims who have committed suicide and to demand the archdiocese release all the names of clergy who molested children over the years. Leaders of the group said they neither authorized nor had prior knowledge of Robertson's actions.
The archdiocese has released the names of 211 of the 244 priests identified as accused abusers. Mahony has declined to name the remaining 33 priests because they have requested protection under privacy laws.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
The archdiocese has released the names of 211 of the 244 priests identified as accused abusers. Mahony has declined to name the remaining 33 priests because they have requested protection under privacy laws. During his homily Sunday, Mahony talked about the archdiocese's efforts to train church staff and clergy about abuse prevention and about other safeguards they have implemented.
"This will continue forever, and it's wonderful to put these efforts in place," Mahony told the congregation. Robertson, who was sitting in a pew near the altar, got up and handcuffed himself to the back of Mahony's chair, also known as the Bishop's Chair or the Cathedra.
The Mass continued without interruption as security guards surrounded Robertson, who stood expressionless while churchgoers received communion.
As congregants filed out after Mass, a few shook Robertson's hand and chatted with him. Several others snapped photographs of him with their cellphones or cameras. One man said to Robertson, "Don't you dare scratch that throne."
ROFL!!! Only in LA!
LOL! Saw this yesterday, but never got around to posting it!
Good for him!
Mahony: "blah blah blah blather, blah blah..."
Prevention begins BEFORE church staff and clergy can get involved -- IT begins in the seminary!!!
Religiosorum Institutio
30. Those To Be Excluded; Practical DirectivesAdvantage to religious vows and ordination should be barred to those who are afflicted with evil tendencies to homosexuality or pederasty, since for them the common life and the priestly ministry would constitute serious dangers.
Either Mahony is part of the problem or he needs to buy a vowel and get a clue...
They have security guards at mass? Whatever happened to the ushers?
LOLOLOL!
By my own experience, the majority of parishes have replaced the ushers with "Hospitality Ministresses"
Cardinal Mahoney, tear down that cathedral!
All the architectural critics roundly applaud them for that.
At St. Patrick's Cathedral, we have not only employed ushers (security guards), but also what appear to be off-duty cops (who get hired in NYC largely because they can carry concealed weapons). They stand a short distance to either side of the celebrant (including the Rector as well as the Cardinal) as he distributes communion (at least on Sundays, I think it's just security guards during the week).
I've also seen uniformed police come in and arrest someone (immediately) upon his starting shouting during a mass celebrated by the Cardinal, so I think they are usually around , at least off stage, when the Cardinal celebrates. I've twice seen Emergency Services Unit (NYPD SWAT) with shoulder arms and helmets outside the Cathedral (once during Gay Pride Day last Sunday and one other time).
Almost always, there are uniformed police on the steps of the Cathedral when I go in to Mass there.
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