Prayers for the Church must continue.
The Los Angeles Archdiocese in response to a court order released thousands and thousands of documents from files on priests accused of sexual abuse and stunned many with the announcement that retired Cardinal Roger Mahony has been relieved of his public duties.
Wow.
Archbishop Joze Gomez wrote a letter that appears on the Archdiocese’s website, which reads:
“My predecessor, retired Cardinal Roger Mahony, has expressed his sorrow for his failure to fully protect young people entrusted to his care. Effective immediately, I have informed Cardinal Mahony that he will no longer have any administrative or public duties. Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry has also publicly apologized for his decisions while serving as Vicar for Clergy. I have accepted his request to be relieved of his responsibility as the Regional Bishop of Santa Barbara.”
This is an astounding move. And likely sadly necessary. Cardinal Mahony is one of the most prominent Catholics in the United States.
Abp. Gomez reached out to victims of sexual abuse, offering his apologies and promising to work to ensure something like this never happens again. For that, we should pray.
February 1, 2013 at 6:40 am
Round One:
Archbishop – 1
Cardinal – 0
February 1, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Mother Angelica is finally beginning to be vindicated!
February 1, 2013 at 2:49 pm
I always thought that Mahony did more damage than Law ever did.
Gomez needs our prayers. Even my non-believer brother who lives in LA thought Mahony was great because of his liberal policies.
Thank God things are changing!
February 2, 2013 at 1:18 am
Why is Archbishop Gomez being cast as the hero? Less than 48 hours ago, his legal team was still working as hard as it could to obstruct justice and hide the names of the guilty. I can't help but see this as a cynical ploy to cut his losses and pretend he 'knew nothink!'
February 2, 2013 at 2:43 am
So who gets the liturgical dancers and the big, ugly, Soviet-esh building?
February 2, 2013 at 6:53 am
Rome must assert itself now. It must summon Mahony for canonical trial and strip him of membership in the College of Cardinals, which votes on papal succession. Defending the faith until death does not mean sacrificing the innocent on the altar of the ecclesiastical institution.
Do Catholics really want somebody who enabled clerical child molesters having a say in who will replace Benedict?