Mahony Testifies in Fresno Sex-Abuse Case, by Victoria Kim and Duke Helfand, Los Angeles Times, March 17, 2009

Mahony Testifies in Fresno Sex-Abuse Case

By Victoria Kim and Duke Helfand
Los Angeles Times
March 17, 2009

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/03/mahony-testifie.html

Cardinal Roger Mahony took the witness stand today to answer questions in a Fresno clergy sex-abuse lawsuit, telling jurors that accusations of molestation were never brought to his attention during his time as an official in the Central Valley diocese.

"I don't recall any case while I was here of allegations of sexual abuse of a child," he said. "I don't know how it would be handled because I don't recall it."

In a July 17, 2007, Cardinal Roger Mahony turns to look to the back of a Los Angeles courtroom as victims of priest abuse were asked to stand.

Mahony served as a high-ranking official in the Diocese of Fresno when two brothers -- George and Howard Santillan -- allege they were molested by a parish priest in the Central Valley town of Wasco.

Mahony has been subpoenaed as a witness in the case by plaintiffs' attorneys, who want to demonstrate that the diocese had been alerted to the alleged molestation through a housekeeper who had led the boys into the rectory bedroom of the accused priest.

The alleged abuse occurred from 1959 to 1973. At the time, sexual abuse of children was not discussed as an issue among church officials or even society at large, Mahony said.

"Any kind of problem like this was looked at as a spiritual failure," Mahony said. "It was dealt with as a spiritual problem."

Mahony flew to Fresno for the day on a private plane. He was accompanied into the courtroom by two attorneys and a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Fresno County sheriff's deputies escorted the group to and from the courtroom as local camera and photo crews swarmed them, following Mahony's entourage across the court parking lot and onto a crosswalk at the noon lunch break.

Mahony was composed during 70 minutes of initial testimony. Speaking directly to the jury when answering questions from plaintiffs' attorney Jeff Anderson, he leaned to the left on the stand and appeared flushed at times as Anderson peppered him with one question after another. He is expected to resume his testimony this afternoon.