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

[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.