New sex abuse suit filed against Los Angeles Archdiocese

A 27-year-old man filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Archdiocese this week charging that the church failed to protect him from sexual abuse by former priest Michael Baker, who has since pleaded guilty to criminal charges of molesting children.

The man, identified as "John MG Doe" in the suit, alleged that Baker abused him for two or three years beginning when he was 12, while he was a student and altar boy at St. Columbkille parish in South Los Angeles. The church was aware of Baker's "dangerous propensities and tendencies as a child molester" but allowed the priest to have continued contact with children, the lawsuit alleges. The suit only identifies the alleged abuser as "Doe 4." Attorney Vince Finaldi said court filings at a later date would identify "Doe 4" as Baker.

The plaintiff is the younger brother of Luis C., one of the two boys Baker admitted molesting in his criminal case. The two brothers did not know of each other's abuse, Finaldi said. Luis C. settled his claim against the archdiocese for $2.2 million, according to Finaldi.

For church critics, Baker's case has come to symbolize the church's failings. Authorities have said he confessed to Cardinal Roger Mahony in 1986, after which Mahony, then a bishop, sent the priest to a treatment center and reassigned him to nine other parishes. Mahony has said Baker's case "troubles" him the most and publicly apologized for allowing the priest to remain in ministry.

Baker, who was sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison, has appeared before a federal grand jury investigating the archdiocese and Mahony's handling of abuse cases, sources have told The Times.

-- Victoria Kim

Comments

[Ex-Catholic]

Mahoney "apologized", and it "troubles him"??
What is wrong with this picture? Why does this criminal still lead the Catholic Church in Los Angeles? When will the public demand that he is ousted? How can people accept his behavior and and remain in the Catholic Church? Why aren't Catholics outraged? Do you condone his behavior? I am so disgusted with Mahoney that it makes me sick to my stomach.

[Bill McGowan]

The other brother received a large 2.3 million award. Somehow, this does not ring true. Gimmie some too !!!!!

[Mark]

I hope these victims take the Catholic church for EVERYTHING IT HAS! 'Course, we all know that there will always be religious freaks who will give money to the church regardless. Hell, Ma-phony himself could admit to being a serial killer and the devout wackos would continue to fall over themselves giving money to the church. Don't they realize that all the money they give will be part of the millions and millions of dollars that the church must pay to abuse victims? I love that!!! Mahony is A BAD GUY!!! He PROTECTED and COVERED UP priestly abuse of innocent children. Shameful Ma-phony, SHAMEFUL!!!

[Ray]

Why don't they round all these pervs up!
You know they are all guilty of the crimes.
God is on our side.

[TAM]

Mahony, stated that this matter trouble him, and it would trouble me if I was him. Just more of his lies, and Cooley stated it is not enough to charge him. Cooley, wants to be AG, and is protecting Mahony, and the Catholic Chruch.
Why is this brother only coming forward now?

[Pizzedoff]

Homosexuals + employment within the accommodating predatory Catholic Churches = a potential replacement of;
A. More homosexuals recruited to further infect future populations with their perverse psychology or; B. In the very least we get psychologically damaged survivors that face a lifetime of shame, guilt and hopefully successful (albeit, expensive) therapy.
Any question that homosexuality presents a serious national security, health and financial threat to society?
Since the homes’ appear and react so well organized this fact should clearly define them as a terrorist threat to the body politic, possibly even more dangerous than radical Islam.
OK your turn, counter my opinion with your multitude of shallow, derogatory politically (pathetically?) [in]correct self-interested responses to defend a lifestyle that has never once been proven to be anything more than a low class, weak willed, animalistic, degrading bad choice of behavior.