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	Mahony Talks to Police about Alleged Assault outside Church Associated Press, carried in San Jose Mercury News December 6, 2007 http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_7648863?nclick_check=1 LOS ANGELES—Cardinal Roger Mahony has spoken with police detectives after several priests said they were told by him that he had been assaulted last summer by someone upset over a sex-abuse scandal. Mahony talked with police on Wednesday during a telephone conversation and indicated he did not want to pursue an investigation, police Lt. Paul Vernon said. Mahony responded to a phone call from police who learned about the alleged assault from news reports, Vernon said. The 71-year-old cardinal told colleagues about the attack during a conference in October, saying he was assaulted because of the church scandal. His remarks were first reported Tuesday by the Daily News of Los Angeles. Vernon said Mahony told police he was walking near the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels downtown to drop off letters in a mail box in late July when he was approached by a man shouting obscenities. Mahony said he was punched by the man and kicked after he fell to the ground. The cardinal said he was badly bruised by the attack. Vernon said Mahony decided not to pursue the matter with police. "Given that the cardinal opted not to make a crime report, there is nothing to investigate," Vernon said. "The good news is, he was not seriously injured and this appears to be an isolated incident." The church's settlement with 508 alleged victims was approved July 16. Most of the $660 million began to be paid out Monday when checks totaling about $500 million were mailed. During settlement negotiations, Mahony came under fire from some victims and attorneys who said he moved sexually abusive priests to different parishes rather than removing them.
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