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Nick Ut / AP
Cardinal Roger Mahony officiates during Ash Wednesday services in 2008 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.
Popular pressure is mounting in the U.S. and Italy to keep California Cardinal Roger Mahony away from the conclave to elect the next pope because of his role shielding sexually abusive priests, a movement targeting one of the most prominent of a handful of compromised cardinals scheduled to vote next month.
Amid the outcry, Mahony has made clear he is coming, and no one can force him to recuse himself. A Vatican historian also said Wednesday that there is no precedent for a cardinal staying home because of personal scandal. But the growing grass-roots campaign is an indication that ordinary Catholics are increasingly demanding a greater say in who is fit to elect their pope, and casts an ugly shadow over the upcoming papal election.
Conclaves always bring out the worst in cardinals' dirty laundry, with past sins and transgressions aired anew in the slow news days preceding the vote. This time is no different — except that the revelations of Mahony's sins are so fresh and come on the tails of a recent round of sex abuse scandals in the U.S. and Europe.
This week, the influential Italian Catholic affairs magazine Famiglia Cristiana asked its readers if the Los Angeles-based Cardinal Mahony should participate in the conclave given the revelations. "Your opinion: Mahony in the conclave: Yes or No?" reads the online survey of one of Italy's most-read magazines.
The overwhelming majority among more than 350 replies has been a clear-cut "No."
The magazine is distributed free in Italian parishes each Sunday. The fact that it initiated the poll is an indication that the Catholic establishment in Italy has itself questioned whether tarnished cardinals should be allowed to vote — a remarkable turn of events for a conservative Catholic country that has long kept quiet about priestly abuse and still is deferential to the church hierarchy in its backyard.
That initiative followed a petition by a group in the United States, Catholics United, demanding that Mahony recuse himself. So far 5,600 people have signed the petition, according to spokesman Chris Pumpelly.
"It's the right thing to do," Andrea León-Grossman, a Los Angeles member of Catholics United, said in a statement on the group's website. "In the interests of the children who were raped in his diocese, he needs to keep out of the public eye. He has already been stripped of his ministry. If he's truly sorry for what has happened, he would show some humility and opt to stay home."
Mahony, however, has made clear he will vote. "Count-down to the papal conclave has begun. Your prayers needed that we elect the best pope for today and tomorrow's church," he tweeted earlier this week. He promised daily Twitter updates.
Separately on Wednesday, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan was deposed about clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, which he led from 2002 until 2009. The Milwaukee archdiocese has sought bankruptcy protection from nearly 500 abuse claims. The attorney for the Milwaukee archdiocese said Dolan was mainly questioned about his decision to publicly name clergy known to have molested children.
Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, one of the Vatican's top canon lawyers, told The Associated Press that barring any canonical impediments, Mahony has a right and duty to vote in the conclave. At best, he said, someone could persuade him not to come, but De Paolis insisted he wasn't suggesting that someone should.
Bishop Charles Scicluna, the Vatican's former sex crimes prosecutor, said it was up to Mahony's conscience to decide whether or not to participate.
"It's not an easy situation for him," Scicluna was quoted as saying by Rome daily La Repubblica.
Related: Boston's sandal-wearing Cardinal O'Malley getting papal buzz
Last month, a court in Los Angeles ordered the release of thousands of pages of confidential personnel files of more than 120 priests accused of sex abuse. The files show that Mahony and other top archdiocese officials maneuvered behind the scenes to shield accused priests and protect the church from a growing scandal while keeping parishioners in the dark.
Mahony was stripped of his public and administrative duties last month by his successor at the largest Catholic diocese in the United States. But the dressing-down by Archbishop Jose Gomez only affected Mahony's work in the archdiocese, not his role as a cardinal. Gomez has since urged prayers for Mahony as he enters the conclave.
Mahony has responded directly and indirectly to the outcry on his blog, writing about the many "humiliations" Jesus endured.
"Given all of the storms that have surrounded me and the archdiocese of Los Angeles recently, God's grace finally helped me to understand: I am not being called to serve Jesus in humility. Rather, I am being called to something deeper — to be humiliated, disgraced, and rebuffed by many," Mahony wrote.
He said in recent days he had been confronted by many angry people. "I could understand the depth of their anger and outrage — at me, at the Church, at about injustices that swirl around us," he wrote. "Thanks to God's special grace, I simply stood there, asking God to bless and forgive them."
Mahony declined further comment Wednesday, according to the archdiocese spokesman Tod Tamburg.
Mahony is scheduled to be questioned under oath on Saturday as part of a clergy abuse lawsuit about how he handled a visiting Mexican priest who police believe molested 26 children in the Los Angeles archdiocese during a nine-month stay in 1987. The Rev. Nicolas Aguilar Rivera fled to Mexico in 1988 after parents complained. He has since been defrocked but remains a fugitive, with warrants for his arrest in both the U.S. and Mexico.
Historian Ambrogio Piazzoni, the vice prefect of the Vatican library, said there was no precedent for a cardinal staying away from a conclave because of personal scandal, though in the past some have been impeded either by illness or interference by governments.
Regardless, he said, any decision to stay away would have to be approved by the full College of Cardinals given that the main duty of a cardinal is to vote in a conclave.
"The thing that characterizes a cardinal is to be an elector of the pope," he told reporters.
Italian newspapers have been filled with profiles of the cardinals whose presence at the conclave would be an "embarrassment" to the Vatican. They include Irish Cardinal Sean Brady, accused of covering up sex abuse; Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels, whose offices were searched in 2010 amid a crackdown on pedophile priests by Belgian police; and Cardinal Justin Rigali who retired as archbishop of Philadelphia in disgrace after a grand jury accused him of keeping credibly accused abusers on the job.
Dirty laundry was also aired in the run-up to the 2005 conclave that elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as pope.
Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, for example, was cited in a criminal complaint just days before the conclave alleging involvement in the 1976 kidnappings of two fellow Jesuits during Argentina's dark years of military dictatorship. The cardinal's spokesman at the time called the allegation by a human rights lawyer "old slander."
According to the only published account of the 2005 secret balloting, Bergoglio came in second place.
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He says he's coming no matter what. I'm sure an alter boy or two heard that one before.
Q: How do you make a nun prenant?
A: Dress her up like an altar boy.
If they keep priests that have shielded sexual predators there won't be anyone there for the vote...
You're real funny
Since they elected a pedophile enabler to be Pope last time is it any surprise that they get a vote this time?
GM StonePipe
Bada Bing! Bada Boom! Sounds like you are competing with Andrew Dice Clay! LOL
Parents and guardians do not let trust and faith be alone with your children.
Doesn't the church have any method of "de-frocking" a Cardinal from that position? If not, why not? It seems logical that their "judicial" system would have that type of punishment included.
Anti-Trust... their method of dealing with this is having the cardinal or bishop send the priest involved to a specialty monastery in New Mexico. Since this guy "merely" ignored what was happening and the fact that he was the guy in charge? the positions within the catholic church are all about power. (Just like politics). Only with politics the people can change the course of history. Catholic church? Notsomuch.
Besides which, the Pope can't very well say "I made a mistake".
Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that, in virtue of the promise of Jesus to Peter, the Pope is preserved from the possibility of error[1] "when, in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole Church".[2]
Don't you know that the pope and, by extension, the cardinals are simply god's puppets. When the pope speaks you are hearing god's will directly from the source. If you don't believe that's true you can ask any Catholic and they will be happy to confirm if for you.
So.....you're saying gawd approves of child abuse? Condones it? Shields the perpetrators? Knowingly puts more children at risk all the while encouraging their parents to donate what they can...just to protect the church?
I thought gawd was supposed to be omniscient? Why doesn't he know that will destroy the church? People will sue, they will lose all their money, no one will want to be a priest and thought a child molester, no one will trust the church as a moral authority....oh wait....maybe that's what he wants. Maybe this is gawd's way of helping to destroy a corrupt and rotting corpse of greed and abuse that purports to represent him.
You'd think a gawd whose only response to any problem has always been mass murder wouldn't go so easy on these sick, bastards, though. He ripped small children apart for teasing a bald man...but lets child rapists live in luxury and comfort and die of old age? Hmm. Nothing in the bible against pedophilia either....strange for a book that claims to be a moral guide.
I was talking about "de-frocking" the Cardinals, not a "low-level" priest.
You think he's alone in "shielding" their all involved one way or another !!!
Putting Holy Mother Church first yet again. Child's point of view: I was penetrated, my innocence stolen, I turned to drugs to try and escape the shame while being threatened with Hell if I told and NOW the person who was in charge of covering for my rapist is up for a promotion?
I say, why do nominal Catholics remain in this organization? I ask, if you are afraid that Yahweh will burn you a lot, like on your hands and back and neck for leaving this Church, is that a god worth worshipping? Please, walk away and regain some self respect. Trying to reform this Church is like a member of the NAZI party or the KKK saying, well they do so much good otherwise, I will try to reform from the inside. Fail.
Mahony is pathological. No moral person who understood empathy would put himself and his job above the crimes he committed. It's completely indicative of the decay present in the Catholic Leadership.
Pure evil.
Arrogance is their sin and their downfall.
WOW mahoney is no where apologetic and claims to suffer as Christ. What a phony.
Agree how dare this creep compare his suffering to Jesus!!!
What a total disgrace. These sexual predators and those who hide them should all be thrown in jail. They make me sick. Mahony was basically aiding and abetting child rapists by "shielding" them and putting more and more children at risk. According to this article Mahony thinks he's like Jesus? What a sick bastard!
I am ashamed that I once belonged to this religio-Industrial-complex. I had serious questions about faith as a teenager but chose family comfort and harmony (idle threats!) over integrity. Leaving was one of the most freeing decisions I ever made. Of course, it all makes sense now: What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof! (Hitchens).
Now I have a lot to make up for. I encourage other ex-Catholics like me to devote money to secular humanist causes where and when they can. I particularly like the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
As for this Cardinal, truly despicable. Apparently the Holy Spirit wants a pedophile protector on the short list for pope. Catholics! Untwist your brain for one minute (maybe two) and just think about that!
What a joke!
As a Christian, I can safely say--that man is not my brother. And he forgets that piece of scripture--"Better a millstone be hung around his neck than harm one of my little ones." Seems these people ALWAYS ignore that one.
My faith remains strong. These men will have to answer for what they have done just as we all will. I remain faithful to the Catholic Church.
tawbear,
Can I ask you what it would take for you to say goodbye to the Catholic Church? What if there were Cardinals who were found out to have eaten babies and covered up the fact that thousands of babies have been eaten by them and priests on a global scale.
Would that be enough?
-----tawbear------
These men will have to answer for what they have done just as we all will.
Pedofilia and aiding or protecting pedofiles is a FELONY crime!!!
Do you reallyt think a slap on the hand and ooooooH! To have to answer to god!!??
Is an apropriate punishment??
In most states, depending on the age of the child, the sentence is 10yrs in prison to life!!!!!
Should he really be exempted because he wears a robe!!
Come on, tawbear...Really???
But they ARE the Roman Catholic Church!!!!!
Tawbear - I remain faithful to the Catholic Church.
I feel badly for you that you arent strong enough personally, emotionally and religiously to know that this has everything to do with the church you choose to remain faithful to. Do you also condone murder? You have a church that publicly supports these animals - many are removed from their ministry but NOT the church and many convicted priests continue to stay in the Vatican for protection. This is a group you want to remain faithful to? Wake up! All you are to the church is a dollar amount. You can practice Catholicism privately and dont have to support the church itself. YOU and people like you are as guilty as those that committed the crimes as you continue to support a CORRUP and CRIMINAL orginization. If one of your relatives was commiting sexual abuse to one of your children would you look the other way and say "God will judge him as he will us all?".....or would you put your CHILD FIRST and have the abusing relative arrested?
Atheist - I left the Catholic Church out of convenience - I never had a bad experience there and never knew anyone that had. I understand this is real and it's a problem, I just didn't see it...
Priests answer to a higher authority then teachers, but are you aware of the numbers? We have a lot more teachers fondling little kids yet the unions go out of their way to protect them - Kids put their faith in these teachers and look up to them, why isn't this plastered all over the news? It doesn't make it right, I am just pointing out the war I see that was declared on Catholics and Christians.
The Church helps more poor people around the world than any two other organizations. Why can't you see the good? I now belong to a small Church - we collect a lot of food and money for the poor. The best and most effective way to get that to the people that need it is how??? Yes, the Catholic Church - they have the infrastructure to deliver. In fact, the majority of charities today were created by Christians (and all Christian religions are spin offs of the original Catholic Church).
I can't say I know what you went through regarding bad experiences at Church, but I can be sympathetic - I do believe that this is not nearly as bad as the press has made it out to be. I personally believe they should just let Priests marry - they would attract better candidates.
Freedom From Religion wants to remove all religion from our society - Do you really believe that's good? Where have all morals originated from? Look at the societies that outlawed religion (Soviet Union for one), are they freedom loving people? The religious free Soviets and Chinese killed over 120 million people in the 20 century - don't they have any regard for human life? You can claim that all wars are caused by religion but that is not even close to correct (Romans, Egyptians, Huns, etc). Good luck and God Bless
Actually the FFRF simply wants you to keep your silly sharia laws where they belong, in your own life and not imposed by the government.
Your bizarre cult should be your business not mine, and it definitely shouldn't be the concern of our secular government.
NJSteve,
It's irrelevant if the Church, as you say, helps people and does good. This only means something IF you think goodness and philanthropy would disappear if the Church did. Clearly that's nonsensical. In short, the Church's good works are redundant, making their evil a net loss for society in my opinion. Afterall, Nation of Islam and Hamas both have programs to get young men off drugs. Do you support the Nation of Islam and Hamas? That's your logic. What about honesty and truth NJSteve?
It's also irrelevant about teachers and sexual abuse. Teachers face jail, priests clearly do not, not even ecclasiastical punishment. That deaf priest who raped 200 boys? Never defrocked! Anyway, we can talk about teacher crimes, but the subject is priestly rape. It's grotesque to think we even know the whole story considering the Church NEVER offers information freely about this.
No, You are wrong about Freedom From Religion Foundation. Completely wrong. I am a member. FFRF has one main objective: to keep religious bias out of American Law because the Constitutution prohibits it. Period. This is very concerning to me that you have easy access to their mission statement and you put out wrong information. Please try not to do that in the future. Some people call that Lying For The Lord.
Hypocrisy. Pride. Arrogance. It is infuriating to see this alleged man of God not show humility and ask for forgiveness of his own sin. Yes, God does have special grace and it is abundant and sufficient. The Catholic church has really lost it's way. I cannot understand how they will defrock a priest for having consensual relations with a woman because a priest breaks his vow of celibacy, but when he breaks this vow along with the law by engaging in sex with a child they shuffle priests around to avoid embarrassing the church. Disgusting hypocrisy!!!
If the Catholic Church were one bit serious about cleaning up its sexual abuse problems this Cardinal would be told by Papal authorities to stay home. He should be banned from everything and that includes voting. The man is a disgrace to the Church and his position.
This action begs the question: what would a Cardinal have to do to be told, "hey buddy, sit this one out."? Would boiling and then eating babies be enough? Seriously, would that do it?
Laugh all you want, but the prevailing logic of Catholicism is NO! Let that detonate in your brain.
Perhaps distracting them with some Sheep-Therapy would get them away from the boys.
The cardinals could be the ones doing the kneeling for a change...and ooooh, are they warm and cuddly
in the winter! The church could keep it billions and we would have the happiest sheep around.
Its a win-win!
Greg123,
I think it's prudent that civilization punishes non-consensual sex crimes. Non-human animals cannot consent and deserve our protection, not ridicule. I know you were joking, but I'm not a fan of bestiality anymore than I am a fan of joking about racism.
yes, I was certainly joking.
Its the only way I can fine to gain a bit of compassion in an insane/helpless situation
"Count-down to the papal conclave has begun. Your prayers needed that we elect the best pope for today and tomorrow's church"
How about prayers so that sexual predator priests are not only brought to justice but thrown out of the church???
One more reason that as a catholic, I walked away...
No problem. Simply assure the "cardinal" that there will be no boys available to bugger then offer him a free day at Disneyland.
The Catholic Church is an insane asylum that cherry-picks the Bible verses it likes and ignores the rest. As a Christian, I m saddened and infuriated by these abuses of power by these disturbed men who find their way into our spiritual lives. The Catholic Church is no better than the Mafia. Worse. At least The Mafia is upfront about what they do.
It seems likely the church will survive for millenia.There will be changes.Unfortun ately large ancient groups seem to change slowly.It it bothers you too much,don't read OR comment
You are right, traditions change. Morals change. But you're probably wrong about the church. The evidence points to the contrary. Religions have a tried and true history of going extinct. It's one thing they do very well in fact considering the 9,200 documented deities that find no favor in the 21st century.
This just proves that the Catholic church has no ethics or morals at all and is just after your money and the power it affords the clergy. This cardinal is a real sleazebag and should be in prison, not in the church.
Mahoney should already be in prison, not going to Rome.
The man needs to be in jail, not on a Roman holiday.
Heinous but hardly surprising. Mahoney has never accepted responsibility for his role in the abuse or the role of the church in general, even after the memos surfaced that revealed he and Curry actively hid priests from law enforcement even as victims piled up. Even the supposed sanctions by Gomez are toothless since it hasn't limited Mahoney's participation one iota. Mahoney symbolizes everything that's wrong with the Catholic church and the child abuse scandal. His continued denial and participation has permanently alienated many who would have forgiven had he been honest even once. The devil couldn't have succeeded any better in promoting Godlessness himself. No need to bother, Mahoney did it for him.
This man shouldn't even be allowed into a church - let alone vote for the pope. The Catholics in Rome need to meet him at the airport there and usher him back onto a flight home.
Let's see. They have these rules:
1. Celebrate Mass with a woman: instant excommunication
2. Talk to reporters while in Conclave: instant excommunication.
BUT....
Protect, aid, and cover-up child rapists and well, you are not only NOT excommunicated, you can stand for a possible promotion to Pope!
Insane. And yet people remain "strong" in this faith. That's because faith is clearly a cognitive disorder.
Cardinal Mahony didn't know child molestation was wrong as the bible didn't give him direction on the matter so for his career he protected the Priest that raped kids. He did apologize and now hopes to be selected as Pope to get back to molesting childing and rape the female faithful. Pope Benedict himself a victim took the lead in assuring cover up of cases and wow he was selected as Pope. The rewards are great if you know how to keep the Vatican secrets. Just think the history of child molestation in the Catholic Church dates back to Pope Leo Medici who openly molested the faithful in 1516 and it took 496 years when a Vatican Butler exposed the secrets with documents as proof. Not bad for criminals.
I'm not aware of any evidence that shows the Catholic Church willingly provides information about their sex crimes. It has all required secular justice to force them to do it. They fought tooth and nail to prevent the documents that show the crimes of Mahony from surfacing.
Despicable and I am getting a little tired of nominal Catholics putting up with this. They are reminding me of those German Citizens who didn't rise up against the NAZIs. As for the devout, well, as you can see by my questions above, not even eating babies would make them leave.
Faith is a mind manacle.
Indeed, Athiest---
The promotion of belief based on faith, accepting the word of an authority figure or a sacred book
instead of thinking for ourselves and relying knowledge based on factual evidence is the same
brainwashing that works in politics, the media....
It's no wonder the big banking families, Rockafellers etc have always supported religion.
It's that king of mindless acceptance of authority that makes us so easy to manipulate.
So we accept horrific events like the invasion of Irak, the big bank bailouts etc because our
faith in authority...just to be raped of our minds and our money again and again!!
When are we going to wake up??
We don't need religion...I can figure out the golden rule on my own, thank you!
Greg, thanks for the props. Your authority argument is spot on. Another favorite of mine: I don't need to believe in moral absolutes to have a moral stance.
Faith is dying in Europe, here too actually. Big Faith is primarily a Third World problem now.
The ass-banger Mahoney and the entire child-molesting Church Of Perverts must be put on trial and executed for their sins against society. Then, all churches must be bulldozed to remove the last of this stain against society.
Religions execute. Civilizations imprison. I favor jail for monsters regardless of their god or crocodile tears. As far as bulldozing churches, well that's not something I favor either.
They are beautiful examples of architecture (many are). They should be understood for what they are. Our ancestors attempt to find answers to questions. Nothing more. As such, they can be appreciated like the pyramids or the ancient temples of Greece.
Athiest---
I live in Granada, Spain.
There are catholic churches all over the place here.
Although the architesture is impressive I can think of many better things to do with the
valuable space.
Fair enough Greg 123,
I know there are churches that are being turned into beautiful bed/breakfasts in the UK. Certainly many American churches are hideous. Little more than convention halls with the ambiance of a circus tent.
Atheist----
Yes, or a cultural center would be nice!
Here in Granada we have an excellent opportunity to compare the cathedrals with the Arab
monuments (particulary the amazing Alhambra Palace...right in front of our house).
Yes, I'm sure the people were searching for answers long ago but I believe mostly the church took the old Pagan festivals celebrating the changing of the seasons...the birth of the sun after xmas and the growth of Spring
and adapted them to suit their own agenda...mostly power and control of the people.
I don't think it was their intention that children get abused but when you tell a man he can't have sex
for the rest of his life...well, his needs don't go away....And well, grant them impunity and all hell breaks loose!
The Churches and cathedrals have an intimidating aspect to them...the high alter, high ceilings, the pastor looking down at everyone...."have I been good or bad?" "Have i sinned? Should I confess?"...Where, in contrast, the Arab spaces seem to be there just to enjoy and meditate. There is an overwhelming calmness about them! The other one worth visiting would be the Mesquita in Cordoba. The whole Catholic thing is like a heavy weight....the processions of semana santa (Easter) are very depressing..dragging jesus around still after 2000 years! The youth just play along with it mostly out of obligation doing their first comunions mostly for the gifts and not really for the church...because they are afraid NOT to do it as they may be judged or rejected by their community.
I invite you make the trip to Granada and see it all for yourself!
If nothing else, it's likely to be sunny!
g
Just him? What about the rest of the cover-up contingent, including the pope himself. Does he get a farewell wave goodbye or are they discouraging him?
www.catholicarrogance.org
www.BishopAccountability.org
And go watch the HBO documentary - Mea Maxima Culpa. It should make anyone who drops money in a collection plate feel like a supporter/enabler/accomplice to the child rape that's gone on.
sleepinsadie
Just watched the 1st 1/2 of it.
Thanks, excellent film! I hadn't known just how rampant and ingrained the disgusting behavior is!!!
It's all so sick!!
The film should be shown on the front doorsteps of the Vatican daily!