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	Court Order Sought against Man Who Allegedly Threatened Cardinal Associated Press, carried in San Jose Mercury News December 6, 2007 http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_7652339?nclick_check=1 LOS ANGELES—Attorneys have requested a temporary restraining order against a man they claim threatened Cardinal Roger Mahony and other church officials after he was kicked out of church for allegedly using drugs. Edward George Filek, 61, allegedly "made general threats" against Mahony and other cathedral workers, according to documents filed in the restraining order petition, dated Wednesday. The order seeks to make Filek stay at least 100 yards away from Mahony and two monsignors. Filek would also have to refrain from assaulting, stalking or phoning the men. Mahony recently told fellow priests that he was attacked earlier this year because of the Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal. Filek was not linked to that attack. Filek was thrown out of Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral on Sunday after he started "doing drugs" during Mass, according to a report filed with the restraining order petition. He returned to the cathedral later in the day and security guards called police when he refused to leave. He came back Monday and made more threats and stated "you will be sorry," court documents state. No number was listed for Filek in an area phone directory and it was not immediately known if he had an attorney. Filek was arrested at least once during his visits to the cathedral this week. According to a security guard report, the Los Angeles Police Department advised guards to seek a restraining order because Filek was a repeat trespasser. A call to the Los Angeles archdiocese was not immediately returned Thursday. Mahony, 71, told priests at an October conference that he was roughed up outside the cathedral this summer. He did not file a police report about the incident. Mahony has declined to comment publicly about the assault and a church spokeswoman would not confirm the attack, but it is referred to in the petition, saying Mahony had "been subject to physical assault during 2007." The Rev. Joseph Shea, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Glendale, related Mahony's story to The Associated Press. It happened in late July or early August as he was dropping off letters at a mailbox near the cathedral, Shea said. Mahony was so badly beaten that he was hospitalized and it took him several weeks to recover, Shea added. After news stories about the assault, police talked to Mahony, but they said he did not want to pursue an investigation. The church has reached settlements totaling about $660 million with 508 alleged victims of sexual abuse. Checks for most of that money were mailed Monday. Leading up to the settlement, Mahony came under fire from victims and attorneys who said he moved sexually abusive priests to different parishes. Church officials have said Mahony tried to reach out to victims, meeting with many of them and their families.
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