LA Abuse Scandal: Cardinal Banished

The Australian
February 2, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/la-abuse-scandal-cardinal-banished/story-e6frg6so-1226567002136

[the Los Angeles files]

THE Archbishop of Los Angeles stripped his predecessor of all church duties last night as he released files on more than 100 clerics, as required under a 2007 lawsuit deal over alleged sex abuse.

Archbishop Jose Gomez said retired cardinal Roger Mahony would "no longer have any administrative or public duties", while Cardinal Mahony's former top adviser on sex abuse issues, Thomas Curry, had stepped down as a regional bishop.

"These files document abuses that happened decades ago, but that does not make them less serious," Archbishop Gomez wrote, releasing the personnel files online after prolonged wrangling over whether the names should be blanked out.

"I find these files to be brutal and painful reading. The behaviour described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children. The priests involved had the duty to be their spiritual fathers and they failed. We need to acknowledge that terrible failure today."

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In all, 124 files were released on the LA archdiocese's website, listed by priests' names, including 82 containing information on allegations of childhood sexual abuse. In one, an alleged victim lashes out at Cardinal Mahony's suggestion that he seek comfort from the church.

"You expect me to go and receive the sacrament of reconciliation and then that of Holy Communion at the hands of a priest?" the letter asked.

"I am sure I wasn't the only SOB he molested. I could've sued, I could've told my parents, I could've?

"Instead, I did what I was told to do ... 'Leave it to God' and lived with the pain, in silence."

The files, containing roughly 12,000 pages of letters, memos and other documents, can be viewed at

[link]

The archdiocese reached a $US660 million settlement in 2007 with about 500 alleged victims and agreed to release the personnel files of accused clergy.