Criminal Behavior Did Occur ... or Did It? Cardinal Mahony's Two Accounts of a Videotape by a Priest Accused of Molesting Boys Differ Markedly, California Catholic Daily [Los Angeles CA], March 21, 2007

Criminal Behavior Did Occur ... or Did It?
Cardinal Mahony's Two Accounts of a Videotape by a Priest Accused of Molesting Boys Differ Markedly

California Catholic Daily [Los Angeles CA]
March 21, 2007

http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=65ebccfb-3ece-4543-ab58-8f461fee04f6

Has Cardinal Roger Mahony been less than forthcoming to the faithful about priests accused of molesting minors? The case of Lynn Caffoe, a defrocked priest so accused, indicates yes, say victims' advocates.

Caffoe, 61, a former Los Angeles archdiocesan priest, has been accused of molesting several youths between 1975 and 1994. Four of his alleged victims have filed suit against the archdiocese, claiming it engaged in "oppression, fraud and malice" by disregarding abuse accusations against the priest.

As evidence, plaintiffs' lawyers in a recent filing in Los Angeles County superior court cite a letter sent by Cardinal Mahony to Cardinal Josef Ratzinger in April 2005. (Reporting on the letter, the March 20 Los Angeles Times noted it was "not fully public" but was "quoted in a court filing.") The letter is part of Caffoe's personnel file, which the archdiocese by court order has recently turned over to prosecutors and plaintiffs. In the letter, Mahony refers to a videotape made by Caffoe in which appear "partially naked," sexually aroused boys as "objective verification that criminal behavior did occur."

Six months after sending the letter to Ratzinger, however, Mahony released an "Addendum" to the 2004 "Report to the People of God," which provided summaries of the personnel files of priests accused of molesting minors. Under the date, "6/10/92," the summary for Caffoe reads, "two priests at St. Bede's report finding an undated videotape in Fr. Caffoe's room of improper behavior with several high school boys. No sexual activity. The boys are fully clothed."

Caffoe's Addendum summary is filled with what appear euphemisms. Mention is made of "improper behavior," "boundary violation[s]," "inappropriate behavior ... involving two separate boys," Caffoe being "overly familiar" with teenage boys, and a "violation of restrictions" (though "non-sexual"). Not until 1991 is there any mention that Caffoe may actually have abused anyone, and then it's a reference to "suspected child abuse." From 1994 to 2002, the summary lists various accusations against Caffoe. The summarized account of him ends in 2002.

When he issued the Addendumin in October 2005, Cardinal Mahony called it "full disclosure and transparency." However, ask critics, don't the details in Mahony's letter to Ratzinger belie this, since they contradict the Addendum? No, J. Michael Hennigan, Mahony's lawyer, told the Times. The Addendum's statements "were not intended to be a description of the contents of the files," which, said Hennigan, the courts forbade the archdiocese to make. The Addendum, rather, was merely "an index, a chronology."

Mahony probably had never seen the Caffoe videotape, said Hennigan. But, if so, one is left wondering, what is the source of the conflicting account of the videotape the cardinal made to Ratzinger? And if, in 1992, the videotape constituted "objective verification of criminal behavior," why was Caffoe allowed to stay in ministry for at least another two years?