By Beverly White
WBIR
January 29, 2009
http://www.wbir.com/news/national/story.aspx?storyid=76265&catid=16
[with video]
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Federal prosecutors in California are reportedly investigating Cardinal Roger Mahony and other officials at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
They are reportedly looking into allegations of sexual abuse committed by priests and whether enough was done to prevent them.
Cardinal Roger Mahony, spiritual leader of millions of local Catholics, is now the target of a federal fraud investigation according to the Los Angeles Times.
Quoting unnamed sources, the newspaper says U.S. Attorney Thomas O'Brien is taking a personal role in launching a grand jury probe into whether Mahony, and perhaps other church leaders, committed "honest services fraud" by failing to keep children safe from predatory priests.
No comment from the U.S. Attorney or his staff, but Mahony's lawyer says they have been and will continue to cooperate.
Michael Hennigan says "the Archdiocese has received requests from the United States Attorneys Office for information about a number of priests, two of whom are deceased and none of whom are known to be in ministry."
This man says he was abused by church workers as a teenager and applauds efforts to seek justice now.
James Robertson of "Survivors of Silence" says "sadness as always, there's always sadness. But better late than never, that's how I really feel about this. Better late than never."
The Archdiocese calls clergy sexual abuse "regrettable" but says it has led to broad reforms.
Mahony's lawyer says he doesn't think he is the target of the federal probe.
While the Archdiocese is "calling for an internal investigation of the government leak to determine the extent and depth of the misconduct by those responsible for the leak."
Two years ago LA's DA reportedly criticized this archdiocese for institutional moral failure. As or the federal investigation, insiders say it's just getting started.
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