Documents from the Case of Aguilar Méndez v. Cardinal Mahony, Bishop Rivera, and Nicholás Aguilar

The Aguilar Case

Ordained a priest of the Tehuacan diocese in Mexico in 1970, Rev. Nicolas Aguilar-Rivera was sent to the U.S. archdiocese of Los Angeles in March 1987, after he was severely attacked at the Cuacnopalan parish where he was pastor. An investigator in the case, who also lived in the parish neighborhood, said Aguilar-Rivera often had young men and teenagers spend the night with him. The investigator suspected the priest was attacked by one or more of them.

Aguilar-Rivera was assigned to an East Los Angeles parish, and was transferred from there to a South Central Los Angeles parish after just a few months. In December 1987 the young sons of two of the many Spanish-speaking families whose trust Aguilar-Rivera had gained told their parents, who told the archdiocese, that the priest had sexually abused them.

Aguilar-Rivera was confronted with the allegations by archdiocesan officials. The officials did not inform police, and Aguilar-Rivera fled to Mexico. California police estimated that Aguilar-Rivera sexually abused at least 26 children from both Los Angeles parishes during his nine months in the archdiocese. He is said to have abused at least 60 Mexican children, both before and after his stay in California.

Aguilar-Rivera was charged with abuse in Mexico in 1997, was convicted of the charges in 2003, but was not sentenced because the judge determined that the charges were too old. He was allowed to remain in ministry. In July 2009 Aguilar-Rivera's laicization was announced. In March 2013 Aguilar-Rivera remains at large and is on Mexico's federal Most Wanted list on charges of rape and indecent assault. He is also wanted in Los Angeles for charges of lewd acts on a child.

Reporting of the Aguilar Case

• Visiting Mexican Cleric Flees, Priest Sought in Alleged Molestation of Altar Boys, by Marita Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, February 20, 1988
• Priest Now Suspected of Molesting 26, by Marita Hernandez and Mathis Chazanov, Los Angeles Times, March 5, 1988
• Priests: Escapes, Evasions, by Jason Berry, Los Angeles Times, March 20, 1988
• Priest Formally Charged in Sex Abuse of 10 Boys, by William Overend, Los Angeles Times, April 12, 1988
• 'It's As If No One Wants to Face What Happened,' One Father Said.; Church, Families Deal with Child Sex Abuse by Priests, by Marita Hernandez and John Dart, Los Angeles Times, June 20, 1988

• Father Nicolas Aguilar Rivera: Priest Fled to Mexico and Is Still a Fugitive, by Glenn F. Bunting, Ralph Frammolino, and Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, August 18, 2002
• Sex Abuse Allegations Against Los Angeles Archdiocese Priests, by Glenn F. Bunting, Ralph Frammolino, and Richard Winton, LA Times, August 18, 2002

• LA Archdiocesan Report, Feb. 17, 2004
• Attorneys: Mahony Ignored Warnings from Mexican Bishop, Associated Press, downloaded April 30, 2004
• Runaway Priests, Hiding in Plain Sight, Great Escapes, Cleric Slips Out of U.S., Continues to Work in Mexico, by Brooks Egerton and Brendan M. Case, Dallas Morning News, June 22, 2004
• Runaway Priests, Hiding in Plain Sight, Beating the System, Dallas Morning News, June 22, 2004
• Runaway Priests, Hiding in Plain Sight, The Human Toll, by Brooks Egerton, Dallas Morning News, June 22, 2004
• Alleged Abuse Victims Pressure LA Cardinal over Outreach Effort, by Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press, July 6, 2004

• LA Archdiocesan Report Addendum, November 15, 2005

• LA Times Database, April 20, 2006
• Mexico Cardinal Sued over Alleged Abuse, by Julie Watson, Associated Press, September 19, 2006
• Man Allegedly Abused by Priest Sues U.S., Mexican Cardinals, by Linda Deutsch, Associated Press, September 19, 2006
• Alleged Sex Abuse Victim Sues Cardinal Mahony, CBS 2, September 19, 2006
• Cardinal in Mexico Accused of Cover-Up, by Marion Lloyd, Houston Chronicle, September 20, 2006
• 3 Tied to Abuse Case Detained in Mexico, by Lisa J. Adams, Associated Press, September 20, 2006
• Sex Abuse Victim under Fire from Catholic Church, by Diego Cevallos, IPS, September 21, 2006
• Attorney Attacked at Mexican News Conference on Clergy Abuse, by Pamela Miller, Minneapolis Star Tribune, September 21, 2006
• Text of Lawsuit against L.A. Cardinal, by Matt C. Abbott, Renew America, September 22, 2006
• Mexican Police Search for Accused Priest, by Ioan Grillo, Associated Press, September 27, 2006
• Mexican Bishops Calls U.S. Lawsuit against Cardinal a "Media Scandal", Associated Press, September 30, 2006
• Mexico Begins to Suspect Men of Cloth of Covering Up Sex Abuse, by Laurence Iliff, Dallas Morning News, October 6, 2006
• Survivor Tries to Break Barriers on Priest Scandal, by Stephanie Hoops, Ventura County Star, October 11, 2006
• Mexico Bans St. Paul Lawyer for 5 Years, by Pamela Miller, Minneapolis Star Tribune, October 16, 2006
• Accused Priest’s Long Flight From Law in U.S. and Mexico, by James C. McKinley Jr., New York Times, October 21, 2006

• Cardinal Says He Warned Mahony, by Joe Mozingo, Los Angeles Times, February 22, 2007
• Code Used to Discuss Problem Priests, Mexican Cardinal Says, by Kevin G. Hall, McClatchy Newspapers, May 16, 2007
• Deposition for Mexican Cardinal in Abuse Case, by Julie Watson, Associated Press, August 9, 2007
• Letter Suggests Socal Church Official Knew Priest Would Flee, by Noaki Schwartz, Fresno Bee, August 28, 2007
• Catholic Church Scandal: Unpriestly Acts Prompt More Calls for Action, by Daniel Harju, Los Angeles City Beat, August 30, 2007
• Group: Mexican Cardinal Knew of Abuse, by Jessica Bernstein-Wax, the Associated Press, September 12, 2007
• Mexican Cardinal Says He Didn't Know Priest Sent to U.S. Was Suspected Child Molester, Associated Press, October 1, 2007
• Mahony Denies Being Told Priest Was Suspect, by Tony Castro, Daily Breeze, October 2, 2007
• Suit Dismissed against Mexican Cardinal, Associated Press, October 16, 2007
• Ruling May End Abuse Suit against Prelates, by Greg Krikorian and John Spano, Los Angeles Times, October 17, 2007
• LA Judge Dismisses Second Suit against Mexican Cardinal, the Associated Press, carried in the Press-Enterprise, November 16, 2007

• No Jurisdiction over Mexican Diocese, Court Rules, Metropolitan News-Enterprise, February 9, 2009
• Former Altar Boy Alleges in Suit That L.A. Priest Molested Him, by Duke Helfand, Los Angeles Times, June 19, 2009
• Mexican Bishop Announces Laicization of Priest Accused of Sexual Abuse of Minors, Catholic News Agency, July 31, 2009

• Mexican Man Who Says He Was Raped by Priest Files Lawsuit Naming Mahony, Mexican Cardinal, Los Angeles Times, April 20,
2010
• Attorneys Sue LA, Mexico City Cardinal over Abuse, by Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press, April 20, 2010
• Suit Alleges Cardinal Mahony Conspired to Hide Priest's Sexual Abuse of Children, by Carol Williams, Los Angeles Times, April 21, 2010
• Accusations against Mexican Cardinal Are False, Asserts Archdiocese, Catholic News Agency, April 27, 2010
• New Lawsuit Targets Dioceses in LA, Mexico, Mercury News, December 10, 2010

• Juan Doe I v. Cardinal Roger Mahony et al., Order Denying Defendant's Motion to Dismiss, February 25, 2011
• Human Rights Law Can Be Used in Clergy Sex Abuse Suit, Judge Rules, by Annysa Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 28, 2011
• Predators in Plain Sight: Priests Accused of Child Abuse Appear beyond the Reach of Law, CNN, October 29, 2011

• Fugitives from Justice: Roman Catholic Priests, by David Jackson, Gary Marx, Brian Boyer, David Eads, Katie Nieland, and Joe Germuska, Chicago Tribune, March 11, 2012

• Files Show How LA Church Leaders Controlled Damage, by Gillian Flaccus, Huffington Post, January 21, 2013
• Renewed Call for Criminal Prosecutions in Church Abuse Scandal, by Jonathan Lloyd, NBC Los Angeles, January 22, 2013
• Father Nicolas Aguilar Rivera: Accused of Molesting 13 Youngsters in Nine-Month Term in L.A., by Barbara Jones, Los Angeles Daily News, January 25, 2013
• Records Detail Cardinal's Failings in Abuse Scandal, by Wayne Drash, CNN, February 23, 2013
• Personnel File of Rev. Nicolas Aguilar-Rivera, p. 39.
• Cardinal Mahony "Unflappable" in Deposition on Priest Abuse Cases, Los Angeles Times, February 23, 2013
• Cardinal Roger Mahony Gives Deposition in Lawsuit of Priest Who Allegedly Molested 26 Children, by Mariecar Mendoza, LA Daily News, February 24, 2013
• Accused Priest on the Run, by Gary Tuchman, CNN, February 27, 2013
• Church Accused of Trafficking in Abuse, by Iulia Filip, Courthouse News Service, March 14, 2013
• LA Archdiocese Wants Key Clergy Abuse Suit Tossed, by Gillian Flaccus, the Associated Press, May 13, 2013
• LA Clergy Abuse Suit Delayed to Consolidate Cases, by Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press, May 14, 2013
• For Roger Mahony, Clergy Abuse Cases Were a Threat to Agenda, by Harriet Ryan, Ashley Powers, and Victoria Kim, Los Angeles Times, December 1, 2013

• Archdiocese to Settle Priest Abuse Cases for $13M, by Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press, February 18, 2014
• Los Angeles Bishop Kept Altar Boy List from Police, by Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press, February 19, 2014
• L.A. Archdiocese Settles Final Priest Abuse Case; $740 Million Spent, by Victoria Kim, Los Angeles Times, February 19, 2014

The 2013 Deposition of Cardinal Mahony

• Deposition
• Exhibits
• Individual Exhibits 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
• Exhibit 3 is the March 23, 1987 letter from now-Cardinal Rivera to Cardinal Mahony, warning him about Aguilar's homosexual problems, the "most delicate physical aggression he experienced, and the "accusations and suspicions" regarding him. In the deposition (pp. 29-30), Mahony continues to state that he never received the letter, and that if he had, he would never have accepted Aguilar into the archdiocese..

• Exhibit 8 contains Mahony's handwritten note dated January 26, 1988, forbidding the sharing with the police of lists of altar boys.

Documents from the Joaquín Aguilar Méndez Suit against Cardinal Mahony, Cardinal Rivera, and Rev. Nicolás Aguilar Rivera

On September 11, 2007, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests released documents from Joaquín Aguilar Méndez' suit against Rev. Nicolás Aguilar Rivera, who was charged in 1988 of abusing 10 boys in Los Angeles. Despite extradition orders in 1988 and 1993, Aguilar worked as a priest in Mexico until the suit was filed in 2006. He is accused of raping 12-year-old Joaquín Aguilar Méndez (no relation) in 1994, after he fled U.S. authorities and after Mexican bishops and civil authorities knew of the LA accusations. This page presents the files in easy-to-download form, including dozens of diocesan documents.

For background information on Rev. Nicolás Aguilar Rivera, see Visiting Mexican Cleric Flees: Priest Sought in Alleged Molestation of Altar Boys, by Marita Hernandez, Los Angeles Times (2/20/88); Priest Now Suspected of Molesting 26, by Marita Hernandez and Mathis Chazanov, Los Angeles Times (3/5/88); Priest Formally Charged in Sex Abuse of 10 Boys, by William Overend, Los Angeles Times (4/12/88); 'It's As If No One Wants to Face What Happened,' One Father Said: Church, Families Deal with Child Sex Abuse by Priests, by Marita Hernandez and John Dart, Los Angeles Times (6/20/88); LA Archdiocesan Summary of Aguilar File (2/17/04); Great Escapes: Cleric Slips Out of U.S., Continues to Work in Mexico, by Brooks Egerton and Brendan M. Case, Dallas Morning News (6/22/04); Complaint for Damages, Aguilar Mendez v. Mahony et al. (9/19/20); 3 Tied to Abuse Case Detained in Mexico, by Lisa J. Adams, Associated Press (9/20/06); Accused Priest's Long Flight from Law in U.S. and Mexico, by James C. McKinley, Jr., New York Times (10/21/06); Group: Mexican Cardinal Knew of Abuse, by Jessica Bernstein-Wax, Associated Press (9/11/07); Mexican Cardinal Says He Didn't Know Priest Sent to U.S. Was Suspected Child Molester, Associated Press (10/1/07); Mahony Denies Warning on Priest, by Tony Castro, Press-Telegram (10/1/07).

1	Declaration of Alberto Manuel Athié Gallo (9/20/07) English
2	Declaration of Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera in Support of Mexican Defendants' Motion to Quash Service of Summons for Lack of Jurisdiction (3/26/07) English & Spanish
3	Declaration of Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar Martínez in Support of Motion to Quash (3/26/07) E&S
4	Deposition of Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera (8/8/07) (2.3M) Also available as two smaller files 1 2 E During the deposition 16 exhibits were introduced; we have pulled most of them from Translated Documents and assembled them below: 1 Plaintiff's amended notice of deposition [Not available] 2 Three letters [Not available] 3 Letter by Rivera appointing Aguilar to San Miguel Arcangel (1995) [Not available] 4 Police report of beating of Aguilar (8/8/86) S&E [= document 13.3 below] 5 Resignation by Aguilar from San Sebastián Mártir parish, acceptance by Rivera (1/27/87) S&E [=13.5] 6 Documents reviewed by Rivera to prepare for deposition [Not available] 7 Letter from Rivera to Mahony, asking him to take Aguilar for a year (1/27/87) S&E [=13.6] 8 Letter from Aguilar to Rivera, relaying Curry's request for account of Aguilar (3/12/87) S&E [=13.7] 9 Letter from Rivera to Mahony recommending Aguilar and mentioning homosexual problems (3/23/87) S&E [=13.9] 10 Letter from Rivera to Aguilar, confirming that a letter has been sent to LA (3/23/87) S&E [=13.8] 11 Letter from Aguilar to Rivera requesting extension (12/20/87) S&E [=13.12] 12 Letter from Curry to Rivera reporting allegations vs. Aguilar (1/11/88) E [=13.13] 13 Letter from Curry to Rivera enclosing clippings and asking that Aguilar return to LA (2/23/88) E (one clipping in S) [=13.14] 14 Letter from Mahony to Rivera stating that Aguilar molested many altar boys (3/4/88) S E [=13.15-16] 15 Reply by Rivera to Mahony citing 3/23/87 letter (3/17/88) S E [=13.17-18] 16 Police report (8/8/86) S&E [=13.3]
5	Deposition of Cardinal Roger Mahony (9/13/07) (2.3M) Also available as three smaller files 1 2 and Exhibit B. During the deposition, 18 exhibits were introduced; we have pulled most of them from Translated Documents and assembled them below: A Plaintiff's amended notice of deposition (9/4/07) [Not available] B Documents produced by the witness 1 Letter from Rivera to Mahony with Aguilar photo (1/27/87) S E [=doc 13.6 below] 2 Letter from Aguilar to Curry (3/4/87) S 3 Letter from Curry to Catholic Charities (3/12/87) E 4 Appointment letter from Curry to Aguilar with note (3/25/87) E [=13.10] 5 Letter from Curry to Aguilar asking for Personal Record Sheet (3/30/87) E 6 Catholic Charities to Curry asking correction to H-1 form (4/8/87) E 7 Corrected H-1 form from Curry (4/9/87) 19 Police report (8/8/86) S&E [=13.3] 23 Letter from Rivera to Mahony, asking him to take Aguilar for a year (1/27/87) S&E [=13.6] 24 Letter from Aguilar to Rivera, relaying Curry's request for account of Aguilar (3/12/87) S&E [=13.7] 26 Letter from Rivera to Mahony recommending Aguilar and mentioning homosexual problems (3/23/87) S&E [=13.9] 29 Letter from Aguilar to Rivera requesting extension (12/20/87) S&E [=13.12] 30 Letter from Curry to Rivera reporting allegations vs. Aguilar (1/11/88) E [=13.13] 31 Letter from Curry to Rivera enclosing clippings and asking that Aguilar return to LA (2/23/88) E (one clipping in S) [=13.14] 36 Letter from Mahony to Rivera stating that Aguilar molested many altar boys (3/4/88) S E [=13.15-16] 40 Reply by Rivera to Mahony citing 3/23/87 letter (3/17/88) S E [=13.17-18] 44 Mahony to Rivera stating that he did not receive the 3/23/87 letter (3/30/88) E S [=13.19-20] 48 Letter from Msgr. Ramos appointing Aguilar to Nuestra Señora parish (12/17/93) S&E [=13.21] 77 Letter from Mahony to Espinosa requesting copy of 3/23/87 Rivera letter (5/20/04) S&E [=13.22] 78 Letter from Espinosa to Mahony enclosing the 3/23/87 Rivera letter (6/11/04) S&E [=13.22] 100 Declaration of Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera (3/26/07) E&S [=doc 2 above] 101 Police report [Not available] 102 Oath Taken by Cardinals [from BA.org archive]
6	Deposition of Bishop Thomas Curry (9/13/07) During the deposition 9 exhibits were introduced; we have pulled most of them from Translated Documents and assembled them below: A Plaintiff's amended notice of deposition [Not available] B Documents produced by the witness 1 Letter from Rivera to Mahony with Aguilar photo (1/27/87) S E [=doc 13.6 below] 2 Letter from Aguilar to Curry (3/4/87) S 3 Letter from Curry to Catholic Charities (3/12/87) E 4 Appointment letter from Curry to Aguilar with note (3/25/87) E [=doc 13.10 below] 5 Letter from Curry to Aguilar asking for Personal Record Sheet (3/30/87) E 6 Catholic Charities to Curry asking correction to H-1 form (4/8/87) E 7 Corrected H-1 form from Curry (4/9/87) 23 Letter from Rivera to Mahony, asking him to take Aguilar for a year (1/27/87) S&E [=13.6] 24 Letter from Aguilar to Rivera, relaying Curry's request for account of Aguilar (3/12/87) S&E [=13.7] 26 Letter from Rivera to Mahony recommending Aguilar and mentioning homosexual problems (3/23/87) S&E [=13.9] 30 Letter from Curry to Rivera reporting allegations vs. Aguilar (1/11/88) E [=13.13] 31 Letter from Curry to Rivera enclosing clippings and asking that Aguilar return to LA (2/23/88) E (one clipping in S) [=13.14] 44 Mahony to Rivera stating that he did not receive the 3/23/87 letter (3/30/88) E S [=13.19-20] 101 Police report [Not available]
7	Notice of [Plaintiff's] Motion and Motion for Order Compelling Answers to [Mahony and Curry] Deposition Questions and Production of Documents; with Memorandum of Points and Authorities; and Separate Statement of Disputed Questions and Answers (9/25/07) (9.1M) Also available as ten smaller files. PDF pages: 1-25, 26-50, 51-75, 76-100, 101-125, 126-150, 151-175, 176-200, 201-225, 226-248
8	Plaintiff's Separate Statement in Support of Motion to Compel Further Responses by Defendant Diocese of Tehuacán to Plaintiff's First Set of Interrogatories (9/25/07) [1.3M] Also available as two smaller files 1 2.
9	Mexican Defendants' Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Jurisdictional Discovery (3/14/07)
10	Plaintiff's Memorandum in Opposition to Mexican Defendants' Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction (9/25/07) [1.5M] Also available as two smaller files 1 2.
11	Notice of Motion and Motion to Compel Further Responses by Defendant Diocese of Tehuacán to Plaintiff's Second Set of Requests for Production of Documents; and Monetary Sanction Request against Defendant and/or Its Attorneys of Record (9/25/07) [6.9M] Also available as eight smaller files. PDF pages: 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, 101-120, 121-140, 141-155
12	Defendant the Diocese of Tehuacán's [and Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar Martinez'] Responses to Plaintiff's Interrogatories Regarding Jurisdiction (5/7/07) [1.6M] Also available as two smaller files 1 2.
13	Translated documents from Mexico (2.3M) Also available as two smaller files 1 2 and separately: 1 Resignation letter from Aguilar to Bishop Ayala (7/1/76) S&E 2 Appointment letter from Bishop Ayala to Aguilar (1976) S&E 3 Police report (8/8/86) S&E 4 Consecration of Norberto Rivera Carrera as bishop of Tehuacán (12/21/85) S&E 5 Resignation by Aguilar from San Sebastián Mártir parish, acceptance by Rivera (1/27/87) S&E 6 Letter from Rivera to Mahony, asking him to take Aguilar for a year (1/27/87) S&E 7 Letter from Aguilar to Rivera, relaying Curry's request for account of Aguilar (3/12/87) S&E 8 Letter from Rivera to Aguilar, confirming that a letter has been sent to LA (3/23/87) S&E 9 Letter from Rivera to Mahony recommending Aguilar and mentioning homosexual problems (3/23/87) S&E 10 Letter from Curry appointing Aguilar to Our Lady of Guadalupe church (3/25/87) E 11 Letter from Aguilar to Mahony on being at St. Agatha's (5/29/87) S&E 12 Letter from Aguilar to Rivera requesting extension (12/20/87) S&E 13 Letter from Curry to Rivera reporting allegations vs. Aguilar (1/11/88) E 14 Letter from Curry to Rivera enclosing clippings and asking that Aguilar return to LA (2/23/88) E (one clipping in S) 15 Letter from Mahony to Rivera stating that Aguilar molested many altar boys (3/4/88) S 16 Translation of #15 E 17 Reply by Rivera to Mahony citing 3/23/87 letter (3/17/88) S 18 Translation of #17 E 19 Mahony to Rivera stating that he did not receive the 3/23/87 letter (3/30/88) E 20 Translation of #19 S 21 Letter from Msgr. Ramos appointing Aguilar to Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro parish (12/17/93) S&E 22 Letter from Mahony to Archbishop Espinosa requesting copy of 3/23/87 Rivera letter (5/20/04) S&E 23 Letter from Espinosa to Mahony enclosing the 3/23/87 Rivera letter (6/11/04) S&E 24 Puebla AG's report on Aguilar victim Rodriguez' statement about catechism practices (12/19/97) S&E 25 Puebla AG's findings about Aguilar's anal rape of the same minor (1997) S&E 26 Certification (12/20/97) S&E 27 Indictment of Aguilar for corruption and attempted rape of Sanchez (1/15/98) S&E 28 Revocation of Aguilar's probation (6/10/02) S&E
14	Defendant Cardinal Norberto Rivera's Responses to Plaintiff's Interrogatories Regarding Jurisdiction (5/7/07) [1.8M] Also available as three smaller files 1 2 3.
15	Defendant the Diocese of Tehuacan's Responses to Plaintiff's Interrogatories Regarding Jurisdiction (5/7/07) [1.6M] Also available as two smaller files 1 2.
16	Declaration of LAPD Police Officer Hector Esparza (9/18/07)
17	Declaration of Thomas Patrick Doyle, O.P. (9/12/07)
18	Declaration of A.W. Richard Sipe (9/21/07) with Sipe's Code Words to Hide Sex Abuse (8/25/07). Also available as a single document [1.4M].