Priest Involved in Abuse Scandal to Attend Annunciation House Event, by Jeff Berg, Newspaper Tree [Texas], April 12, 2007

Priest Involved in Abuse Scandal to Attend Annunciation House Event

By Jeff Berg
Newspaper Tree [Texas]
April 12, 2007

http://www.newspapertree.com/features/1308-priest-involved-in-abuse-scandal-to-attend-annunciation-house-event

So why would Annunciation select as this year's recipient Los Angeles Archdiocese Cardinal Roger Mahony, who is deeply embroiled in the 550-plus cases of sexual abuse suffered by children at the hands of priests?

Annunciation House opened its doors in 1978. Run by well-meaning volunteers, their mission is exclusively to give voices to the voiceless- the poor, the bewildered, the immigrant, and the oppressed. The reward for these volunteers, in part, apparently is to 'live the Good News of the Gospel'.

The need, being ever present and non-stop, has seen the expansion of their services to five houses, on both sides of the border, which provide temporary shelter, food, and services for those in want.

The volunteers who staff and live onsite at these refuges commit to a one-year assignment to assist anyone who comes to the doors.

Priest Involved in Abuse Scandal to Attend Annunciation House Event

And Annunciation is Gospel centered, as noted in their mission statement.

In a Gospel spirit of service and solidarity, we accompany the migrant, homeless, and economically vulnerable peoples of the border region through hospitality, advocacy, and education. We place ourselves among these poor so as to live our faith and transform our understanding of what constitutes more just relationships between peoples, countries, and economies.

In 2003, Annunciation began giving out a Voice of the Voiceless Award. Over the past few years, other icons of the religious community, whose deeds are certainly impressive, have received it.

Last year, Rev. John Fife, a Presbyterian pastor emeritus, who works with marginalized people in Tucson, was the recipient.

So why would Annunciation select as this year's recipient Los Angeles Archdiocese Cardinal Roger Mahony, who is deeply embroiled in the 550-plus cases of sexual abuse suffered by children at the hands of priests?

According to AH Director Ruben Garcia, who has worked with migrant workers for almost 30 years- a sincere and gentle sounding man- "we looked at that (Mahony's involvement with pedophiles) but we are not totally versed on the legal issues in California."

Certainly the stated reasons for the award on AH's Website--- Mahony's advocacy for immigrants and his recent opposition to HR 4437, the 2005 bill that slithered through the then Republican-held halls of congress that authorized many undignified laws against undocumented people, including the ludicrous 700 mile fence, are to be applauded.

But Garcia admits, "I do not follow that issue as I do the migrant issue. I would need to become much more involved and informed about the issue (pedophile priests in California). I have read some of the stories of what has happened in Boston."

But AH casually and completely skips Mahony's unscrupulous behavior, thus completely contradicting the idea of 'voice of the voiceless.'

This issue has been festering for year, as the Catholic Church continues to stonewall efforts to hold Mahony and others accountable for their actions, which include, but are not limited to:

--Offering as a 'solution' to the problem the transfer of priests such as Oliver O'Grady, the subject of the Oscar nominated documentary film Deliver Us From Evil, from one parish to another, thus offering accused offenders a whole new buffet of victims to choose from.

---Housing a pedophilic priest in his (Mahony's) own rectory

---Using church money, Mahony hired a public relations firm, Sitrick and Co., the same firm used by Enron, to help create 'spin' to take the pressure off of him caused by this issue.

There are now almost 600 lawsuits, with 17 plaintiffs and 1000 defendants, in Los Angeles filed by people who claim to be victims of pervert priests. In December of last year, Mahony announced that the LA Archdiocese would pay $60 million to settle 45 of those cases. That is about 8% of the sex abuse cases now pending.

When finally brought to court, Mahony suffered from memory lags that oft times accompanies such behavior.

The December 16, 2004, issue of LA Weekly notes this factoid:

After scandal erupted in 2002 Mahony admitted to leaving eight accused molesters in ministry as cardinal in Los Angeles. That includes Michael Baker, who admitted to Mahony in 1986 that he had molested several youths, but who Mahony kept in ministry for 14 years. Baker was charged with 34 counts of molestation, which were dismissed as a result of the Supreme Court ruling. And it includes Michael Wempe, who faces new criminal charges after 42 counts of sex crimes were dismissed last year.

So, why would Annunciation House even consider sullying itself by rewarding Mahony while overlooking the other side of the coin? Are children not the least empowered of all? Should they not be awarded the most protection of all, especially from 'priests' as sick as O'Grady, whose victims included a nine-month-old girl and two mothers of his young victims?

Garcia again seems to gloss over the issue of Mahony's involvement, but hints that perhaps they should have paid more attention.

"To clarify", Garcia says, "I don't know the details of all that is facing Mahony. When you speak of children, it is an incredibly serious issue, and I wish that the church had looked at it a long time ago, and we should hope that the legal process will succeed."

One would also hope that Annunciation House would see that the most voiceless of us all are the thousands of children, and their families, whose trauma was furthered by someone as uncaring as Cardinal Roger Mahony and those at higher levels, with the buck stopping at the Vatican.