The Prelate As Scapegoat

By Francis X. Clines
The New York Times
February 22, 2013

http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/21/the-prelate-as-scapegoat/?ref=opinion

Cardinal Roger Mahony on May 1, 2010.

Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles wants to participate in the election of the next Pope, and it seems likely that he will get his wish — even though he covered up child abuse when he was archbishop of Los Angeles and was officially relieved of public church duties at the end of January. Judging from the cardinal’s personal blog, if he travels to Rome he will arrive prayerfully accepting his role in the scandal — the role of “scapegoat.” He said on Wednesday that he is sustained lately by spiritual writings that focus on “the acceptance of being scapegoated, pointing out the necessary connection between humiliation and redemption.” It seems possible, however, that he prefers the role of martyr: “This scandal is putting us, the clergy and the church, where we belong — with the excluded ones; Jesus was painted with the same brush as the two thieves crucified with him.”

For some, the cardinal represents nothing so theologically subtle. He’s just a plain embarrassment. One cardinal said his presence at the coming conclave would be “disturbing.” But Cardinal Mahony has every right and duty to be there, according to other church officials, including the current archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose Gomez, who had to rebuke his predecessor when records came to light detailing how the cardinal protected rogue priests.

Considering the long history of the church’s child abuse problem in America — it eventually involved the dismissal and criminal investigation of more than 700 priests — it may be good, not bad, that Cardinal Mahony go to Rome, whether in prelate’s robes or sack-cloth and ashes. Whatever factors go into the deliberations that produce the next Pope, surely the conclave can use his daily presence as a reminder of the Vatican’s woeful track record in managing the scandal. The need is obvious for the college of cardinals to choose a Pope who can repair what Cardinal Mahony described in his blog post as “this terrible sinfulness which has overwhelmed all of us in the Church.”