Cardinal Mahony under federal fraud probe over abusive priests, sources say [UPDATED]

The U.S. attorney in Los Angeles has launched a federal grand jury investigation into Cardinal Roger M. Mahony in connection with his response to the alleged molestation of children by priests in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the case.

The probe, in which U.S. Atty. Thomas P. O’Brien is personally involved, is aimed at determining whether Mahony, and possibly other church leaders, committed “honest services fraud” by failing to adequately deal with priests accused of sexually abusing children, said the sources, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation.

One federal law enforcement source said such a prosecution could be brought under a federal statute that makes it illegal to “scheme ... to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services.” In this case, the victims would be parishioners who relied on Mahony and other church leaders to keep their children safe from predatory priests, the source said.

-- Scott Glover and Jack Leonard

Read the full story on the federal probe at latimes.com.

Updated at 10:10 a.m.: Listen to a KNX radio interview with Mahony here.

Share your view by clicking the "Comment" button below.

Comments

[Sam]

Yay !

[pitbullstew]

We read today that one religious school can ban a persom who 'seems' to be lesbian and the court says the organization is exempt from prosecution for discrimination, now we read the gvt is in the middle of this situation with preists, so which is it?
Is gvt out when the isuue is about sexual preference of the individaul at a private religious school, but in, in this example when the institution is in question?
because if the gvt can pick and choose, then this is a selective prosecution and not, equal protection under the law is it?

[chez]

It's about time!!!

[stephanie]

Mahoney makes me sick. He just shuffled off the problem instead of mandating therapy for the offenders and protecting the children. Mahoney will burn in hell!

[Greg]

It's about time Mahony goes down for his three decade long involvement in the priest sex abuse cases and his involvement in the cover up of these illegal activities. The Catholic community in Southern California has had enough of this money-hungry criminal.

[Alex]

This is a start, but true justice would come when the entire hierarchy -- right up to and including the pope -- is behind bars.

[Roger]

Fr. Thomas H. Smolich, now arguably the top Jesuit leader in the USA, acknowledged that the Jesuit Order failed to notify authorities of accusations against Fr. Jerold W. Lindner, S.J. who taught at Loyola High School in Los Angeles in the 1980s and 1990s.

Fr. Jerold W. Lindner, S.J. was named in a 2003 lawsuit by a girl who said he molested her at Corpus Christi in Piedmont while he was serving at St. Ignatius Prep School in San Francisco. The lawsuit contends that from the 1950s to the 1980s, Lindner "abused and molested his 5-year-old nephew in Arizona and Berkeley," "sodomized and molested two brothers, ages 4 and 7," "orally copulated and sodomized his 11-year-old nephew" and "molested three nieces."

Lindner has been accused by 10 men and women in Southern California, Phoenix and the Bay Area, the Los Angeles Times reported. Lindner has denied the allegations, but he was part of a secret $625,000 settlement in 1997, according to the Los Angeles Times.

[Victoria Martin]

I would hope this leads to prison time for Cardinal Roger Mahony; however, I doubt we will see him behind bars. And why is it only here in Los Angeles that he is being investigated? Why are they not going after him in the Stockton Diocese when he was Bishop there? He was a mandated reporter at that time and should have been disciplined by someone. I just hope the government pulls Mahony's passport so that he doesn't skip out for Rome.

[mary setterholm]

As a clergy abuse survivor who has been helped by the Cardinal and his staff, I oppose this move. I would want to be a witness that I was not denied services.

[R.Garcia]

At Last! The only way to clear him or prosecute him.

[Barbara]

It has taken the US Attorney's office a long time to realize that thier was a huge cover up that goes all the way to the top of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Whenever a suspect priest is removed or moved to another church and the Cardinal knew about the abuse allegations...the parish should have been informed. Sex Offenders have to register...so should pedifile priests. Fr. Mahoney should be held responsible for his staff and should be sent to prison for all the damage he did to the victims. Who is accountable...the one who molested the child...or the man who knew about it and did nothing to stop it.

[American 1776]

The church was suppose to protect the children not abuse them. How hard should it be to convict Mahony, he played a shell game with the priests and the children lost. After all that came out about this mess how could anyone not find him guilty. He aided and abetted child molesters in black robes.

[mary setterholm]

I am a clergy abuse survivor (nun and priest) and I returned to the Catholic faith at the "worst of times" when, contrary to public knowledge, I received help and support from the Cardinal and his staff for healing and reconciliation. I would want to be a witness for SERVICES RECEIVED!!
What has happened to you... that you know now, what happened to me?
Lets rebuild rather than tear down.

[Jim W]

Mahony needs to be hung out to dry. What is so unfortunate is that the millions of dollars used to defend this criminal was fleeced from some of the poorest of the poor.

[Joe Santini]

It is about time for the Catholic Church to be prosecuted for its wrong doing. Mahoney and all the higher church hierarchy finds itself totally immune and cause so much pain and suffering to so many people. The church's atitude towards allowing priests to get married, gays to get married and allowing gays to become priests should be reviwed and changed. Look at how much pain and suffering have the Jews suffered over 2000 years. The Inquisition and all fights againts herectics and the latest, Propositio 8 in California. Long live Junstice!!!!

[Rose]

and I suppose the new administration would love
to hit the Catholic church to try to cover a bit of this latest economic stimulous debt.
They wouldn't attempt to sue the Islamic faiths
for 911 or other terrorist threats and actions
that were perpetrated by individuals within their religous communities and risk insulting or infuriating them further. Next will they try
to charge the Pope with criminal negligence to
try to replinish State and/or Federal coffers?
Or might they be looking next to trying same against Evangelistic and Hebrew groups?
I liked the "new hope and positive outlook" the election brought our country, but now I'm wondering how it may play out, especially after reading this sort of thing! I understand the concept of division of Church and State, but I don't condone this insult to Cardinal Mohoney or his Church , nor should any others
of our other Churches, Temples, or Synagogues.

[R. Coccia]

It's about time. To many lives have been ruined by this man over this issue already. That includes one of the best and holiest people I have ever met. No one,even a Cardinal , who is supposed to a holy and just man, is above the law. Not to mention, thinking his personel view on things should be taken verbatum,without question. He was wrong.

[Lori Wade]

It is about time: cardinal law was ran out of the country to advoid the Law.

Manhoney was basically a good man who heald authority of his church over the power of his people even when he knew the church was doing wrong.
He should be held accountable for the actions he failed to take after he left Central California. When he became an influence in the church at the state level and seemingly did nothing to reverse his eairlier actions. Knowing what he knew and doing noting hopeing the it would just go away, that is a hallmark of lack of character.

The only thing that comes close to that lack in judgement
was the person who poured gas on tha homeless man and set him on fire to die.

[DR]

And they're worried about same-sex marriage. These cults sicken me to no end. He placed little kids in harm's way and thinks that marriage is an abomination! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? That he would even attempt to cover up these sickening acts is a crime in of itself. Now we'll see if there really is a separation of "church" and state. Prosecute him and send his holy *ss to jail. This is LONG overdue.

[Arne Andersen]

Cardinal Mahoney is being investigated for covering up clergy sexual abuse? I communicated personally with him in the early 1990's, and I experienced firsthand his nasty response to victims and their abuse.

Mahoney is guilty as charged - and guilty as sin.

Arne

[charles]

It is about time is right. He is guilty of a most henious crims and that is covering up what he knew to be illigal but a mortal sin.

[JLS]

The US Attorney is demonstrating tremendous leadership in taking on the Archdiocese; the organization that functions as one of the most powerful corporations in the world, and should be held accountable for their strategic choices. This is not a matter of faith; this is a matter of morals, justice and truth. That this is a novel legal theory speaks more to the fact that no one could have anticipated the scope and destruction and deceit that these inicidents provoked. The lack of precedent is understandable--why would a legislature, federal or state, ever have thought to establish a law prohibiting the exploitation of children by members of the clergy, much less legislate penalties for circumstances such as this.

Bravo, Tom OBrien, whatever the outcome. Novel theory today; valuable precedent for the future.

[mimi]

THese priests have been committed ungodly acts for decades. It is clear that seminaries are filled with men screened in favor of this perversion, and any good soul is screened out. It is disgusting. The Catholic congregations need to clean house of these evil men...starting from the top!

[John Brown]

With the documented history of this problem within the church going back more than 1600 years and with these current examples in the US and Ireland showing that despite massive financial fines and repeated public humiliation of bishops they are still unable to produce a modicum of justice in either a humanitarian way or as a genuine Christian response such as that preached of by the catholic church should be enough to see such deeply affected people as the cardinal removed from any social position where the safety of children is involved. If they are not removed then the catholic church should be legislated out of its right to operate as a Christian religion.

[Margaret Hammon]

These crimes were protected the secrets of top church officials. They had no regard for the victims. As in organized crime, the top official (Cardinal Roger Mahoney) devised ways to protect the predators(criminals) and the church's image. It is about time he has to take responsibility for his deviant actions. There are many of us ex-Catholics and non - Catholics who want to see him behind bars. What has taken law enforcement so long to investigate the heinous behavior of the the top church executive?
Margaret

[Connie]

Finally, my prayers have been answered. Put the pedophile enablers in jail and throw away the keys. Cardinal George in Chicago still employs a convicted pedophile. Father Kenneth J. Martin, a convicted child rapist, actually lives in George’s mansion one week each month and is working as a “liturgy expert” in the Chicago archdiocese.

[Michael C]

This is soooooo obviously an action by a grandstanding US attorney looking for either a promotion/political appointment or planning to run for office. Check it out, though: Cardinal Mahony wears a red hat for a reason. Come after him, and you are condemning yourself. Plus, if the heat really comes on, he will disappear to Rome. This is a GIANT waste of taxpayer resources to pump up the ambitions of this penny-ante US atty. Give me a break.

[Richard Ivey]

This is a very creative criminal law. Probably everyone in the world has done something dishonest during their lifetime and can now be threatened with imprisonment.

[Dennis]

Hurrah. Cardinal Baloney.

[Mark Gellerman]

Maphony is as guilty as if he molested the children himself, if not MORE SO, since he swept the whole thing under the carpet. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if it comes out that he was a molester as well. See you in hell, Maphony.

[Candorguy]

Mahony is full of baloney; plain and simple. Cover up after cover up; it's finally coming to the surface. One has to wonder how are the parishioners are able to support Mahony's cover up and still believe in the Catholic faith? For give and forget? I don't think so! Protecting all these pedophiles for all these years is unethical and morally wrong! Shame on Mahony! Mahony needs to resign, now! And his pedophiles need to be in jail! Forget treatment; feed all of them to the prison wolves, since they don't do too well in jail! Vindictive? How sweet it is!

[Rosalie]

Mahony, if you really wanted to follow our Catholic Faith, as we have been taught, you would admit your wrong doing. You would face the congregation, admit your guilt and do your time. After all, how many people have you encourage during confessions to do what is right? Practice what you preach and do what is right! Turn yourself in! After all, you will face our Lord on your judgment day and believe me he will serve justice upon you.

[Eric of Reseda]

PRAISE JESUS! Mahoney the Phoney secretly condoned the rape of children via cover-up and re-assignment. As a 53 year-old man, I am AMAZED it has taken this long to launch a serious investigation of the Roman Catholic Church here in L.A. Heck, we were making jokes - based on common knowledge - about pervert priests since I was in junior high. Has Mahoney and the Church done some GOOD things? Of course! It's their JOB! But to those parishioners who wish to defend them out of some blind loyalty, shame on you. Mahoney and the Church have shown themselves to be compassionate criminals at best. Prosecute, and jail!

[Mary Margaret Chicago]

I hope that the Federal prosecutors watch the extraordinary documentary:

Deliver Us From Evil

This film presents a strong case of how Cardinal Mahoney allowed this abuse to not only exist but to flurish.

http://www.deliverusfromevilthemovie.com

Netflix says: "This unsettling Oscar-nominated documentary from filmmaker Amy Berg investigates the life of 30-year pedophile Father Oliver O'Grady and exposes the corruption inside the Catholic Church that allowed him to abuse countless children. A mix of victim stories and a disturbing interview with O'Grady provides a view into the troubled mind of the spiritual leader who moved from parish to parish gaining the trust of congregations ... all the while betraying so many".

[maureen]

My son is in heaven and the priest that molested him is still alive and in "Good Standing" with the church.he is living comfortably in the Paulist Home for retired priest in Jamica,New York.He was sent from St.Paul the Apostle in Westwood to Santa Barbara,then to Baltimore Maryland where he admitted belonging to a sex ring,(Pedophiles of little boy's)When he took my son to private homes i n Palm Springs and Santa Barbara ,my child was 9 years old and I was a young mother and devout Cathollic and thought my son was in the hands of Jesus Christ himself.My son suffered his whole life with the memories of what "FATHER FRANCIS (FRANK) SWEENY had done to him.
I wrote a letter to Mahony after my son died and told him I did not want money only prayers said for him in our local parish. He never acknowledged my letter..There is more to the gruesome antics from Mahoney's office but I don't want to elborate as it is to disturbing.

[FX Gonzalez]

I left the Catholic church after the settlement was announced two years ago. The church covered up acts that were antithetical to its existence. After that, their credibility was gone.

Given these experiences, it is only fair to have justice on earth and not in heaven. Cardinal Mahony will be held to account, and all the gold in Vatican City won't help this time.

FXG
Northridge, Calif.

[Robert]

If this is still about molestations from years ago and not something recent, wasn't this settled aready? If so I'm getting tired of hearing about it. Can't everybody just move on? I think with the economy in the shambles it is, especially in California, that the taxpayers money could be used more efficiently!

[Mahoney, you betrayed millions of Catholics.]

It's about damn time! He harbored criminals. That's a felony. Every single Cardinal, Bishop, ArchBishop, and Priest who covered up, were part of re-locating sex offenders, and harbored sex offenders should be charged with a felony. They should ALL be in jail. They are NOT above the law. Or is our Federal Government going to screw that up too?

[jeanne]

FINALLY! There has already been a documentary on the subject, 'Deliver Us From Evil" documentaries.about.com/od/review1/fr/deliverus.htm

[Cletus]

If creative lawyering is what it takes, fine.

[Mike_S]

Ridiculous. A publicity stunt. The civil suit effectively bankrupted the Church, what's next, stripping them naked and throwing rocks at them as they walk down the street?

The resources are better spent on mortgage fraudsters.

[Ed Verbus]

Give the Cardinal a break he didn't do anything personally. How many people of other faith have the same problem. Men sin it dosen't matter the denomination. He is a good man that just had some corrupt so called priests use the 'Church as a tool for there sins. Pick on George Bush or his vice president. Them are real war criminals. What about the crooks on wall street. Leave a good man alone.

[jja_American]

I am Catholic, I believe in God.. the Cardinal in my opinion must be forced to tell the truth. He skirted the witness box to the dollar amount of 750 million. BUT he AND the church could have prevented it.
the Victims are in need of LOVE and prayers..

[Mary Jane McGraw - Catholic]

Hopefully the U.S. Attorney will be able to provide the transparency that Cardinal Mahony and the entire Catholic Church has so deftly evaded over the last two thousand years. It seems that the role of the "Good Samaritan" will be brought to life by Mr. Thomas P. O'Brien whose work for truth and justice will do more for "healing" than the $660 million that the Cardinal tossed out as he walked by the children of the Church in pieces at the side of the road here in Los Angeles. The role of the priest in the parable continues to reflect the real interests of the Holy Roman Catholic Church... just walk on by! (Luke 1:25-37)

Catholics around the world deserve the TRUTH about the blatant abuse of power by the Hierarchy and the extensive cover-up of criminal behavior by members of the clergy.

My prayer is that Mr. O'Brfen's efforts will mark just the beginning of what should be an international assessment of the lack of adequate investigation and prosecution of criminals responsible for the sexual abuse of children.

Perhaps now real facts will replace the empty statements and claims made by powerful clergy around the world. Now, at last , there is a hope that we Catholics will be exposed to the realities of the actions taken by our Hierarchy and not just their self serving empty words.

And while we're at it lets get rid of the statute of limitations for the sexual abuse of children

[Butchie]

It seems almost all the postings feel that this effort is warranted, AS DO I !!!!!!!
It is about time the Catholic Church and Roger "The Phony" Mahoney are being held responsible for their irresponsible actions. How the heck can they honestly profess to being for the people when they repeatedly put dangerous people in a position the same said people the profess to be trying to help?

[Ann]

I am a survivor of priest abuse (I was 7). I thank the U,S. Atorney's Office with all my heart. When I got a voicemail from a fellow survivor regarding the probe
I couldn't believe it was true. I just kept saying "this is what it was about, this is what it was all about" Ever since the settlements we have been wating waiting for justice, waiting to be seen. Perhaps I was a fool but with every fiber of my being I expected the church would have acted with 1. Urgency and love to protect the children. 2. I believed that a cardinal of this church would act as Jesus Christ would have acted and would want his followers to act. instead Mahoney covered up, let these pedophiles ruin the lives of so many children( when a priest abuses you your body is hurt but your very being is shattered, your soul hurts.

[Regina Lark]

Whoo-hoo!! Finally!! I've been waiting a long, long time for this. These men of god are despicable.

[Michael P.]

Mahony, knew what was going on, and was an accessary to the abuse as far as I'm concerned.

[mmd]

I can't even imagine the hurt and fear and disillusionment wrought by those who were abused. My prayers are with them and I do hope that anyone who abused a child serves a just sentence here on Earth.

But to make such blatant generalizations about Catholic priests is HATE SPEECH. It would not be acceptable to speak about any other religion in this manner. Statistically there is MORE abuse among the various sects of the protestant faiths, but since there is not one group or leader to hate and blame (and since hatred of Catholics is so ingrained in our society) the anger falls upon our Church.

My prayers are with Cardinal Mahoney, AND the victims of the scandal, AND the priests who perpetrated these horrendous crimes. Everyone needs them.

[Daniel Wilcox]

This so-called "man of Christ" is a disgusting piece of trash. As a life long Catholic I left the church five years ago being ashamed and deeply angered over the abuse of children by the priests and the entire cover up by Mahoney and his henchmen. I believe this Judas belongs in prison with the other child molesters and scum that preys on the young innocents of Catholic families. If there is a God he will see that the entire tribe of monsters burn in hell.

[Allen Chromiak]

I think it is horrible that the Church did all they could to stonewall law enforcement and delay any investigation into the monsters that are abusing children. They fish rots from the head and it is time to clean house and start fresh, Why would anyone cover-up such a sick and perverse act against children? Why refuse to supply any and all names to aid in a Police investagation? I hope no one has forgotten the delay that Cardnal Mahony felt he needed to put in place to protect the priests that were guilty of horrific crimes against children. I hope his judgement day is just!

~ Allen

[Taggart]

About time. This pious pervert-protector should have been behind bars years ago.

[Michael Ross]

This staggering and far reaching case is embelmatic of the legal maxim that the bigger the crime, the less likely you'll get punished. The Un-D.A. Cooley has dragged his heels like a dog to protect this menace to society (recall that Mahoney deigned to perform mass at Cooley's own church a few years back).

Mahoney has long since abandoned his primary duty: protect your flock.

And Cooley should be disbarred for rank dereliction of his duty to protect those in our society least able to protect themselves. Despicable.

Thank God the U.S. Attorney has the courage to go after The Pope of L.A. and expose him for what he is: the enemy of the people.

[Mike Drabik, Toledo, Oh]

FINALLY! Somebody got the courage to do what should have been done long ago. That cowardly prosecutor in L.A. wouldn't do it. So, perhaps the Feds will and the Most Reverend Archbishop Mahoney will soon be fightin' off Bubba who'll want get "to know" him reeealllll well. That's be ironic wouldn't it? The 'good' Archbishop sent priests like Oliver O'Grady in parishes, over and over again, who then continued to rape and sodmonize children. Then he ends up getting sodomized while serving a prison term for his crimes.

I do wonder, however, if it gets real hot and indictment seems inevitable if the 'good' Archbishop would suddenly disappear only to emerge in the Vatican under the protection of Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Law is still sitting pretty in the Vatican, after all - and nobody seems to want to indict and extradite him back here. I would make an educated guess that his 'escape' from the USA was certainly a backroom deal - fer sure!

[Kmbold]

Well said, mmd, above. I don't use the totalitarian term "hate speech" but I do recognize a dismaying piling on not just of Cardinal Mahony but the Catholic Church in general. What is behind this? Not just child molestation, because more occurs in public schools than anywhere else. Perhaps each of you should reflect on your attitude.

[Rick Britton]

This guy deserves prison.............He allowed this to go on and on. That is just criminal

[Ed]

Mahoney needs to be investigated. He is a crook and the public needs justice. Put all Catholics out of his misery and put him in jail. He is as bad as Law who, I suppose, is still hiding at the Vatigan. Investigate him and bring justice to not only him but the offending preists as well. Yes te Pope is helping to continue this problem .

[Buckwheat]

Wisconsin has ruled that what the catholic church has been doing is fraud. Why should anyone tolerate this fraud. Put Baloney and the rest of his ilk behind bars. That should include the mayors, judiciary and police who did nothing to stop this fraud. Let them all go to jail together.

[Mother Mary's Child]

Padre Pio had a dream one night the details of which he told his confessor as it seemed so real to him. In this dream, Jesus was staring down at the top hierarchy of the Church with tears streaming down His face. The Lord was very very angry. Mother Mary is also shedding her tears, telling us we are on a wrong path.
What is a church if not the mirror of God's Holiness? As the Lord criticized the hierarchy of the Jews of His time, He now condemns the hierarchy of what used to be His own church. Wake up, people!

[Vic Ferra]

When was the last time the news media ever said anything good about the church? Shameless bias! Why don't they ever mentioned the 99% good priests that are out there working tirelessly for the kingdom of God?

[Anonymous]

Actually, I heard the Vatican has finially implemented a tough new policy regarding the sex abuse scandel. Very simply, "Three Strikes and you're a Cardinal".

That was a joke there...

[Frank Granata]

This enabler of pedophiles belongs in jail... the letters between he and the Archbishop of the Mexic City Diocese concerning this issue are evidence enough for excommunication and defrocking before going to prison... I worry that his boss will find some excuse to call him to Rome before trial concludes...Transfering this scum to other parishes thereby subjecting their unsuspecting members to have their lives ruined is unpardonable; they are supposed to be the guardians of these people not their betrayers... Voltaire said, circa 1760, "For 1700 years The Christian Sect has done nothing but harm"... So continues the format of this brutal saga.... Imagine the tears that must be flowing from its Crucified Author???

[Kenneth Kafoed]

The cops had best watch the Cardinal closely as every Cardinal is a DUAL CITIZEN of their home country and the Vatican State.
Given his past criminal behavior its reasonable to assume he will skip out given the chance.

[Dan S]

Amazing how all the hateful sexual deviants here try and put the blame on a church and not themselves. Churches don't promote this stuff, you do.

[RICHARD RODRIGUEZ]

NO WONDER WE CALL HIM CARDINAL MCPHONEY. THIS GUY REMINDS ME OF THE SMILING MAYOR, MR. "I CHEAT ON MY WIFE"VILLARAIGOSA. WHEN THERE IS A ISSUE THAT MAKES THE CHURCH LOOK GOOD LIKE GIVING AMNESTY TO ILLEGALS, THIS GUY IS ALL OVER THE MEDIA. WHEN IT IS SOMETHING LIKE THIS, HE HAS A SPOKESPERSON TALK FOR HIM.
WHEN IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH GOING TO GET OUT OF THE DARK AGES & LET PRIESTS MARRY. THIS WON'T CUT DOWN ON ALL THE PERVS BUT IT WILL CERTAINLY HELP TO EASE SOME OF THE TEMPTATION OF MOLESTING BOYS OR GIRLS WHEN HE HAS A WIFE HE CAN GO HOME TO & DO WHAT HE WANTS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. COVERING THE TRUTH IS LIKE A BANDAID FOR CANCER.

[What took so LONG!]

PARENTS continue to offer their children to the church knowing that they molest the kids!
Imagine taking your kids to visit a child molestor and then give that molestor 10% of your income!
Does any of this make sense to you?
I just don't understand how people can be so ignorant!
What a shame that our public is so blind to the truth.
HOPEfully we will see this man go to jai!
If you are one of the people still offering your kids to the church you might want to think about the TRUTH for one second before it's too late and your kid comes home screaming about what happened at CHURCH today!
A child can't be repaired he will be ruined for life so that you can I'm a church going citizen of god.
Mahony laughs in the background as you drop your kid off to visit his priests!

[Anonoymus]

I think some people are out of touch on the matter. The assignment of priests come from the highest level. Someone mentioned in a previous thread about what he has done for the Archdiocese for three decades. His Eminence has only lead this archdiocese for 24 years. Some of this abuse occurred well before he was even here! Cardinal Mahony has implemented programs to prevent this from as early as 1987. Of course, he doesn't get credited for this. He implemented Virtrus Traning for individuals both religious and layperson who serves in ministry in the Church. Los Angeles was the first archdiocese in the country to require ALL parishes to undergo this mandatory training. Of course, he doesn't get credited for this either. If the public is so worried about sexual predators in the church, then why is the public not worried when His Eminence was assaulted on the streets of Downtown Los Angeles. To me a crime is a crime no matter who happens to. For the victims of this scandal, I can understand their frustration but there has been much harm done to everyone. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is trying to correct this matter. Give them an opportunity to do so.

[JCS]

The Catholic Church is one of the most vile, corrupt organizations on the planet and should be held accountable for their 50 year (or longer) practice of shuffling priests around after accusations and admissions of abuse. Each and every bishop and cardinal, whether active or retired, should he hauled before a court and made to explain themselves.

Hurrah for the US Attorney, at last someone has the ballz to confront this organization.

[Michael Higgins]

Cardinal Mahony continues to get battered and beat up. Now, the federal government is getting into the act. When are people finally going to let this poor man alone? He's been vilified over and over again more based on people's mean-spirited prejudices than anything else. He's apologized for not adequately responding to the crimes of some of the clergy but, if truth be told, more often than not his path was recommended or at least supported by the medical community. It turns out that their advice was dead wrong. More victim s and an immense amount of suffering were the result. Still, Mahony tried to be responsible and based his decision on the best advice available. I resist thinking that the Federal Government is anti-Catholic but this constant badgering of the whole Church makes one wonder. Now the U.S. Government is going to define the role and responsibilities of a Cardinal. Are there definitions going to apply to all Cardinals anywhere in the world. Talk about hubris. It's time to get reasonable about these issues.

[Adam]

The Catholic Church covers for hundreds of pedophiles each year, this man Mahony has been the root cause of many of LA's molestations as he helped hide the priests. The Lutherns banned lesbians from their schools today. Is this a free country? One where the clergy is free to commit crimes and spread hate? Jesus showed us what to do to false temples to god.... they must be destroyed. Will any Christian soldiers do god's work and stop these men who claim to be holy but breed sin and hate across our nation?

[thunddn]

Question: Why is it that only Catholic church leaders are being so vigorously pursued...while school teachers across the country are molesting children with no prosecution for school board leaders at any level. Just wondering?

[J. Cully]

The catholic churches response to the last 18 years of sexual abuse cases has
been to throw money at it as quietley as they can for the victims. It's ridiculous already to even look at Mahoney any more in his pious costume giving political speeches about goverment policy on abortion, while his church gets a tax free
ride from the goverment. Look, the bottom line is if this guy (Mahoney) values the life of the unborn so much, where the hell has his public outrage been for all the
children whos' lives have been ruined by the sexual abuse of his preist.

[Kmbold]

To continue the aside, Frank Granata, "Voltaire, though often thought an atheist, did in fact partake in religious activities and even erected a chapel on his estate at Ferney". (Reference.com)

[frisca]

@Rose who complains about the new administration closing gitmo (which has nothing to do with this article btw), and speculating that they gonna target evangelist etc, you do realize that this cardinal might be guilty of assisting pedophiles right?? let him be investigated, and if he is innocent, he has nothing to worry about. but if he is guilty, then let him be punished for his disgusting assistance to pedophiles priests.

[ceebee]

I write this as a life-time, trusting Catholic, but one that recognizes the deep problem with priests that the Mother Church is undergoing on a continuing basis.

Cardinal Mahoney, in his position of great authority, has the responsibility to preserve the safety and wellbeing of his parishiners, and to REMOVE any priest that interferes with that. By ignoring the problem, Cardinal Mahoney becomes part of the problem and should be removed himself.

Any priest that has abused children in his parish should be removed from any further contact with children. Rather than worrying about losing a priest, Cardinal Mahoney should be worrying about the long term effects of the abuse on that child, plus the trust issue with the faith of that child's parents.

Pedophilia is a crime that people go to prison for. Why priests are merely slapped on the wrist and transferred to another parish to do it all over again, is unacceptable. It shows that: 1) The Cardinal will attempt to cover up any wrongdoing so that damages will not have to be paid; or, 2) The Cardinal feels that the sexual abuse was not wrong; or 3) No crime merits getting a priest fired from his job.

There are many dedicated priests that make their vocations their lives with no blemish whatsoever. The trust of the faithful diocese diminishes concerning ALL priests each time a suit is brought to light, therefore each case should be handled with alacrity, honesty, and perseverance, as not to encompass the reputation of every Catholic priest.

[Rick]

The church (innocent parishioners and clergy) has already paid enough for its mistakes. Prosecute the molestors, leave everyone else alone and stop the witch hunt...

[Joey]

Roger Mahony lives in and, operates out of, fear! Fear that his own homosexuality will be revealed. His has been allowed to surrond himself with his gay clerical circle, promote them to positions of power and set up a Dynasty that J.Edgar Hoover would be proud of. If a real investigation is launched, without fear of public opinion, it will show one of the biggest scandals of Church history,

[John]

Well it is his church that promotes illegal immigration and the denial of civil rights for gay people.

[Ashamed Ex-Catholic]

The man (I cannot legitimately even refer to him as a priest) belongs in prison. Hope I live to see the day.

[susan renehan]

I was in Boston when it all came out. We have been outspoken for the last 7 yrs. trying to get someone anyone in Federal law enforcement to take on these bishops who along with the pope have done all they can to cover up the crimes committed against children. The priests who sexually assaulted children are sick but the bishops and cardinals who hide these crimes and make secret hush money deals and move these preditor priests from parish to parish are not sick they are EVIL!! These men deserve some long jail time for the crimes they have helped hide and have committed themselves.
Let's just hope the Feds don't buckle under Vatican pressure

[Ronin]

How about all of the molesters they are hiding in Northern California? There is a retirement home near Los Gatos with plenty of molesters "retired" and still molesting locals. I feel sorry for any Catholics that want to live good lives. But the Catholic Church is EVIL!! If you go to a catholic church, you are enabling these evil MEN!

[Joseph V. Stroba]

Mahony is a follower of Satan definitely not Jesus Christ. The goes for Levada who now is in the Vatican.

[Dugan K]

Mahanony is guilty of not being a Catholic at all. The Faith does not stand for his type of immorality. Mahony and other homosexualist in the Church have engaged in activeities, directly or through complicity, in immoral sexual behavior. During his reign as Bishop, all priest stopped preaching sexual morlality despite knowing that the Catholic Faith embraces such morality, and it was the Bishop's and Priests obligation to teach it. Sexual moraltiy stopped being preached in the Los Angeles Diocises in order to allow these acitiviets to occur.
The chickens were guard by the Wolf. Mahony must go. We need a real Catholic Bishop in the Los Angeles Dioseses.

[Donald from Hawaii]

thunddn: "... while school teachers across the country are molesting children with no prosecution for school board leaders at any level."

You have proof to offer regarding what otherwise could be considered a vile collective slur of an otherwise noble profession? No, I didn't think so.

Suffice to say, then, that "school teachers across the country" AREN'T child molesters. Rather, it should be noted that the vast majority of cases involving the sexual abuse of a minor involve either a relative of the victim, or close friend and / or personal acquaintance of the victim's family.

Now, to address the topic at hand in my own capacity as a lifelong Roman Catholic (Pasadena - LaSalle HS, Class of '78), it is my understanding that His Excellency the Cardinal John Mahoney is presently under investigation by the Office of the District Attorney, in part because it has been alleged that:

(A) His Excellency had prior personal knowledge concerning both the currently-alleged and since-proved commissions of multiple criminal acts, i.e. felony child sexual assault and abuse, by a select number of his employee / priests; and

(B) In his secular capacity as Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, His Excellency has repeatedly and deliberately failed to report such crimes to the proper secular authorities, as required by law, and through knowing and willful action on his part, sought instead to conceal from said secular authorities the aforementioned known and unlawful activities of said priests; and

(C) Through His Excellency's subsequent and repeated official directives regarding the multiple and / or repeated transfers of known offending priests to otherwise-unsuspecting parishes under His Excellency's official jurisdiction, His Excellency the Cardinal has himself engaged in very serious illegal conduct, i.e., the commission of multiple counts of felony obstruction of justice, criminal facilitation and reckless endangerment.

It is not my place to either pass judgment prematurely upon Cardinal Mahoney, or impugn the man's integrity through smear and innuendo. Rather, I will await patiently the official report of the District Attorney, before rendering my personal conclusion concerning the conduct of both His Excellency Cardinal Mahoney as prelate of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and of those secular authorities in charge of the current investigation. Said investigation should be conductly fairly, impartially, and without any undue presumptions of either Cardinal Mahoney's innocence or his guilt.

If circumstances and evidence somehow warrant his subsequent indictment by a grand jury, then we must strive to afford His Excellency, without hesitation or grudge, his constitutionally-protected right to defend himself before the courts of law and public opinion. It will then be incumbent upon the secular authorities to prove their case beyond any reasonable doubt to a duly-constituted trial jury of His Excellency's secular peers.

That said, it has been observed by persons far more knowledgeable than me in such matters that in the United States, supposedly, no person is to be considered above the law.

Once again, that observation may be put to the acid test. The resultant outcome might well determine for many of us whether said observation is a legal axiom applicable to all persons regardless of wealth or social stature, or merely a pleasant-sounding platitude proferred on occasion by our public officals to placate their respective constituencies.

Aloha.

[Margaret]

Until a prison door closes behind a Catholic bishop, I do not think that there will be an end to child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. So far, the abuse crisis has been embarrassing and costly for the Church, but until bishops have to take responsibility and suffer the consequences of their participation in this nightmare, I believe that it will continue.

[OC News Watcher]

FINALLY! There will be some justice! This crook needs to rot in prison! I don't know why it has taken law enforcement so long to go after this evil man. If the earthly authorities didn't get him then God in heaven would have punished him to eternity in Hades!

[Kasandra]

I feel so very sad for the victims of this man. When he dies God alone will hold him responsible for not taking moral leadership on this horibble sin.

He had a moral and civil duty to report these absuve men and let the law deal with them once and for all.

[Kenjiro M. Shoda]

As a young traditional Japanese/American Catholic who had read of the deeds and misdeeds of Cardinal Mahoney, I say it is time for the man to resign.
Cardinal Mahoney during his tenure has supported and been a benevolent patron to the most dissenting, radical, divisive and disobedient segments of the Catholic Church, from femminist nuns pushing for women priests, to pedophile priests hiding from justice.
Cardinal Mahoney represents the liberal/dissident wing of the Roman Catholic Church, and epitomizes the corruption and ineptitude of the autorities in Rome from 1962 until 2005, as well as the corruption and radical views of the liberal wings of the USA Catholic Church. Such views, and such agenda has brough both the Los Angeles Archdiocese, and the Catholic Church in general to the point of collapse.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles needs two things desperatly.
1). A new, young, solidly orthodox and traditional Archbishop totally loyal to the Roman Catholic Faith , it's traditions and devotions, and to the Pope.
2). The Roman Catholic Church, and specifically the Archdiocese of Los Angeles needs for a corrupt despot llike Cardinal Mahoney to either resign gracefully, or be fired by the Pope....just as any CEO would be fired by a Board of Directors who found him guilty of serios mismangement and crimes.

[SalemBill]

Writing from Boston. What you have is a carbon copy case of what happened here. One would think that the Bishops would have learned from the Boston Archdiocese's inactions. The Catholic Church in Boston has been destroyed, and still many problems still exist. Latest scandel involves the Priest's Pension fund. For 18 years no deposits into the fund. "Just give $ but don't ask where it goes".
One word of advice - Pull Mahoney's Passport.

[Fr Patrick McCafferty, Dublin, Ireland]

On the documentary, 'Deliver Us From Evil', Roger Mahoney appears to lie through his teeth about what he knew - or did not know - about Irish predator "priest" Oliver O'Grady, who abused many children.

Mahoney, in that program, pays careful attention to his legal advice and not to the cries of abused children. Obviously, he has other questions to answer - about his "knowledge" as well as about O'Grady, of crimes committed against God's children by clerical abusers.

Let him stand trial. Let the evidence be presented. Let him be prosecuted and defended. And if he is found guilty - in God's Name, put him in jail where all those who recklessly endanger young people belong.

When cardinals and bishops spend time behind bars, maybe then our Church will realise how serious, before God, is the violation of God's children.

[Squire Western]

Oh, baloney! Mahoney is a pathetic, weak excuse of a man... but so is the overly ambitious U.S. Attorney who is going to waste MILLIONS of taxpayer dollars, in the middle of a depression, just to further his political ambitions. Tommy "Showboat" O'Brien is a notorious media hound and that is what this is all about, grabbing headlines.

I worked in the U.S. Attorney's Office in college. And I have to tell you, all lawyers are scumbags but there is nothing like a federal prosecutor for all-out venality. These guys don't care about justice... ethics... the law.... NOTHING except furthering their own political careers. They don't care if they ruin innocent people's lives. They sometimes go after the guilty, like Mahoney, but trust me: Job #1 for them is grabbing the headlines.

Otherwise, why is O'Brien cooking up this lame theory -- which even Laurie Levenson called "creative lawyering" -- involving the ONLY thing the Feds seem able to charge people with, "fraud" -- except to make a name for himself? Do you really want U.S. Attorneys to be able to cook up any lame use of the law just so they can nail people? Don't they have to abide, just a little, by the law? Look what a fiasco these bastards made of the Corona prosecution? They tried to use "fraud" and "deprivation of services" against Corona, too, and FAILED miserably. But they got their headlines, didn't they?

No, O'Brien is almost as pathetic as Mahoney. They deserve each other.

[Albino Luciani]

www.bishop-accountability.org for daiyl verified & vetted coverage on why it is a MORTAL SIN to be donating to the USCCB (Unremoved Sexual Criminal Cabal Bishops) & Roman "La Cosa Nostra" Curia. THE SOLUTION? "STOP DONATING LAITY!" as St. Peter Damien correctly asserted. Ciao e Pace, Albino Luciani, MURDERED POPE, NOT Smiling, From Heaven

[A Foley]

This is nothing more than a California witch hunt! Let us get on with our lives. Let the lawyers find other ways of making money.

[Mocos]

I cannot tell you how tickled I am to learn that Her Almightyness Balony is being investigated. Tee hee hee, tee hee hee...hahahahahahahahah...

I pray that the demon enabler will be held accountable for crimes against children and vulnerable adults.

Next, the Haredi Rabbi rapists!

[clownsta]

Polygraphy all priest and Mahoney to 92% accurate
You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free

ET Snell Clown Community activist
Founder of B.A.P. Bikers against pedopiles

[Brettstrodamus]

Anyone else ever notice that every statue of Father Serra shows him with his hand on the shoulder of his favorite little boy? Coincidence? I think not.

[thunddn]

Kenjiro
Amen brother! I've been voicing that exact thought for years. We need orthodoxy in this Archdiocese...starting from the top. This experiment in liberalized "catholic" protestantism (aka Mahoney-ism) has greatly contributed to the abuse scandal in LA and is the direct cause for the crumbling of this once great Archdiocese. Long over due for him to go....so long as his replacement is truly a man of God and of strong faith and character...loyal to the Holy See.

Donald
Not sure where you're coming from brudda?...I'm just saying....there is a double standard here. ALL abusers should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If you don't recognize the super-vigor with which this has been prosecuted against the Church...for more insidious purposes than "only" applying penalties under the law and recovering "damages"...then I guess a review of the past several years might be in order. Aloha.

[John]

Though Cardinal Mahoney needs to be punished, he needs to be charged under specific criminal offenses rather than the very vague "failing to render honest services"

When is the last time this charge has been used? What exactly does it mean? It appears to mean anything that a proscecutor wants it to mean. Using this agaisnt the unpopular Mahoney appears to be in high demand. What happens when the same charge is used agaisnt real or imagined political / social opponents?

If this is the best charge that they can come up with against somebody with Mahoney's history, then the LA proscecutors office is also guilty of failing to provide honest services.

[Greg]

My comments are in response to Anonoymus [sic] who posted on 1/29/09 @ 9:38 a.m. So tell me, Mr. Todd Tamberg, do you really believe your boss has not been involved in moving and sheltering abusive priests around since the 1970's? I think you need to rent the movie "Deliver Us From Evil". It will open your eyes and you will clearly see how Roger "Phony" Mahony was directly involved with the moving and sheltering of Fr. Oliver O'Grady. Oliver O'Grady has acknowledged molesting children since approximately 1973. He also acknowledges that his superiors (including Roger "Phony" Mahony - who at the time was responsible for investigating sexual abuse claims in the Stockton area) had full knowledge of this abuse. Instead of removing O'Grady from service, Mahony bounced him from parish to parish where he continued to molest children. Mr. Tamberg, your boss has been directly involved with the moving or sheltering of abusing priests since the mid 1970's. My Catholic education tells me that the 1970's were three decades ago. Stop making excuses for this pathetic excuse of a man. He's not worthy of mowing my lawn or washing my car. He needs to be locked up and punished for his wrongdoings. His own personal assets should all be seized and used to repay the loans the Archdiocese had to take out to pay off the victims. Maybe if more of these criminal priests were held personally accountable good schools - like Daniel Murphy High School - wouldn't have to be closed to pay for Mahony's evil and criminal actions. Closing schools only victimizes the children who attend them. Shame on you Roger Mahony and shame on all who continue to support this disgrace to the Catholic Community.

By the way, Todd. Cardinal Mahony was not assaulted outside the Cathedral while "mailing a letter". Last time I checked, there are no mailboxes outside the Cathedral. In my opinion, he probably fell in the shower and was too embarrassed to admit it. Why would he have to put anything in a mailbox anyway? Do you expect anyone to believe there isn't someone in the Cathedral's offices whose only job title is mail clerk? And lastly, this "Vitrus Traning" [sic] you mentioned was created only a couple of years ago and was a collaborative effort and is not solely attributed to Roger the Dodger.

Let's all just hope and pray that Roger "Phony" Mahony doesn't flee out of the country like Oliver O'Grady did. I hope he's put on trial and gets what he deserves. He is a disgrace.

[Daria Case]

At least 10 years ago there was a priest who admitted to molesting children to Cardinal Mahoney and instead of reportiing the man to the police he transferred him to another church without telling anyone of the man's problems. When Cardinal Mahoney was told to turn over records of his priests he never did anything and for some reason the District Attorney or who ever was in charge of such caases never did a thing. When my son told me that there is going to be a Grand Jury hearing I cheered. It is time that Cardinal Mahoney pay for the crime of allowing priests to molest ichildren. I am so glad that all of the messagess I read onfirm my views about Cardinal Mahoney.