The following was sent to Cal Catholic from one of its readers on Mar. 26
In February 2013 as the news media reported on major clergy sexual abuse scandals in the Los Angeles Archdiocese and Archbishop Jose Gomez issued emphatic orders to Cardinal Roger Mahony
“Effective immediately, I have informed Cardinal Mahony that he will no longer have any administrative or public duties.”
Cardinal Mahony had publicly acknowledged that he knew of the sexual abuses by clergy but declined to report the cases to law enforcement or the District Attorney.
Archbishop Jose Gomez was emotionally moved when he read the case files.
“I find these files to be brutal and painful reading,” Archbishop Gomez said in a statement. “The behavior described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children. The priests involved had the duty to be their spiritual fathers and they failed.”
About one year later, however, Archbishop Jose Gomez and Cardinal Roger Mahony were both prominent at the ordination of Bishop Myron Cotta at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Sacramento Tuesday, March 25. Cardinal Mahony was also listed as one of the prominent clergy in attendance on the official announcement for the ordination.
Bishop Myron Cotta is a graduate of the St John’s Seminary of Los Angeles, which was then under the control of Cardinal Mahony.
In February 2013 Archbishop Gomez declared that Cardinal Mahoney will no longer have any administrative or public duties. Now, one year later, Archbishop Gomez has changed his opinion of Mahony, and Mahony is invited to participate in the ordination of a bishop in Sacramento. In the absence of an explanation by Gomez for his 180 degree turn, we can ask if Gomez and Mahoney are cut from the same piece of cloth.
“Bishop Myron Cotta is a graduate of the St John’s Seminary of Los Angeles, which was then under the control of Cardinal Mahony.”
Is this another case where the apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree? We need a Pope Francis intervention if we are to take this so-called Catholic Church in the USA very seriously.
Good point Sarah and Bob!
Pope Francis disciplined the Bishop of Bling in Germany.
Would love to see him do the same w/Mahony.
Should read: accepted the resignation of the Bishop of Bling. Discipline could mean a finger-waving, or two Hail Mary’s, which is about what we are experiencing here in the USA.
It’s hard to take seriously anything from the Bishops when they still honor the scoundrel Mahony.
This clearly demonstrates the total corruption of all the California bishops.
WHAT SCANDAL THEY BRING TO THE FAITHFUL AND TO THE CHILDREN WHO WERE THE VICTIMS OF PRIEST SEX ABUSE.
Have they no shame?
Not only was Robert Cardinal Mahony was suspended from public duties, but his accomplice Bishop Thomas Curry (responsible for Santa Barbara and Ventura) was responsible too. Does anyone know whether Bp. Thomas Curry is still a bishop in our Church? Never forget.
“Most Reverend Thomas J. Curry, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles” is his listing under “Concelebrating Prelates” in the official 29 page enameled paper event program.
“Roger Cardinal Mahony, Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles” is listed, along with Archbishop Cordileone, under “Prelates ‘In-Choir'”.
According to Bishop Curry’s Wiki page, “Despite his withdrawal from public duties within the Archdiocese, he remains an active Auxiliary Bishop and has not submitted his resignation to the Pope.”
Archbishop Gomez declared Curry a “bishop in good standing” here:
https://www.la-archdiocese.org/archbishop/Documents/2013-0215_Letter_to_priests-Conclave.pdf
The hypocrisy is truly mind-numbing.
So what!
Obviously, Cardinal Mahony has no shame and the bishops don’t care at all.
With such poor “leadership” it is no wonder there is so much chaos in our culture.
Unbelievable!!
If the cases were so brutal, so evil, as Archbishop Gomez said, then why did he allow Cardinal Mahony to continue as a priest? Why was Cardinal Mahony allowed to concelebrate an ordination Mass? Why did Archbishop Cordeleone allow Mahony to even be there?
The lives of children were devalued by the bishops’ indifference to Mahony’s presence.
Birds of a feather, flock together. The country club will most always stick up for one of their members, unless he is conservative and traditional. The Italians have a maxim: When the fish stinks, it is because of the head.
Thanks for the dose of Italian common sense, Fr. Karl. And that is not to say one should be doom and gloom. Our Lord told His followers to expect trials and persecutions. I cannot imagine any worse. But where sin abounds, so does grace all the more.
What a triumph there will be.
God bless!
When a Diocese Bishop makes a public statement on something as important as:
“Effective immediately, I have informed Cardinal Mahony that he will no longer have any administrative or public duties” – he has an obligation to justify any changes to his proclaimation.
Apparently Abp Gomez no longer or never did believe his own statement – “I find these files to be brutal and painful reading,” “The behavior described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children. The priests involved had the duty to be their spiritual fathers and they failed.”
Allowing Cardinal Mahony to be publically active in the LA Diocese is a grave SCANDAL,
and through allowed public actions state that sexual child abuse is not so grave.
(Not to mention the over $700 MILLION dollars [given to the Diocese by the Faithful] in Mahony’s fines to date with no offer to give up his own personal wealth.)
Mahony belongs in jail, and the only reason he is not, is because of the statute of limitations for his aiding and abetting child abuse.
Apparently all Gomez really cares about is the support of ILLEGAL immigration.
And as long as Mahony is on the same polticial wave length, nothing else matters.
Archbishop Gomez: As a survivor, my stomach tuned to read this, and wave after wave of repulsion came over me.
The priests were not the only ones who failed their spiritual duty, Archbishop Gomez. The victims and those who are affected by these crimes, which means all Catholics and all former Catholics and all who will never become Catholics, all are watching everyone in the Church involved in crimes against innocent Catholic victims of priests . . . and their superiors, all the way to the Vatican.
Speaking for myself, I say that you too are failing in your spiritual duty. All who are failing victims of priests belong in jail for the harm still being done everyone involved, every Catholic, and everyone watching who will never, ever, ever become Catholic.
Furthermore, you and everyone involved in failing in their spiritual duty are all failing not just the victims of priests such as myself and my family; in allowing this disgraced former archbishop to continue to participate in Church activities from Los Angeles to Sacramento to Rome, you have proven to all that your words do not have the value of the air into which they immediately disappeared.
All victims of priests, their long-suffering families, your entire flock, all Catholics everywhere, all good priests, the Catholic Church in its entirety, and Our Lord Jesus Christ himself all deserve better than this continuing public, private and official offense to us all.
We (CRCOA, Inc.) tried to tell you all so!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Here’s the rest of the story. The Pope is not going to do a thing to Cardinal Mahony and here’s why: As the UN hearings were underway, Pope Francis was meeting in Rome with Los Angeles’ Cardinal Mahony, the USA’s most unaccountable hierarch for priest abuse cover-ups. According to Mahony’s own blog, Francis’ principal concern in their meeting was not the abuse scandal, which apparently was not discussed. Rather, Francis’ main focus apparently was on US Latinos, a group that had long viewed Mahony politically as “the Man” and is a key voting block in November’s US Senate elections critical for maintaining US conservatives’ long term influence over the US Supreme Court majority. Meanwhile, Mahony’s former Diocese of Stockton this week filed for bankruptcy, after paying $3.75 million less than a year ago to a single abuse survivor, seemingly to avoid Mahony’s having to testify. That is in addition to the $660 million Mahony expended for over 500 clerical abuse survivors to settle Los Angeles priest child sexual abuse claims,
Perhaps we should all be writing to the Pope, that Cardinals and Bishops must face Church sanctions (as well as civil) when they aid and abet in the sinning of children.
We can use Mahony as an example.
Regarding ILLEGAL immigrants –
CCC: ” 2241 The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.
Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption.
Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to OBEY its LAWS, and to assist in carrying civic burdens.”
1) the USA is no longer a prosperious nation per the national debt, state debt and most local government debt.
2) ILLEGAL immigrants are not guests.
3) Obeying the law, includes immigration laws.
4) When the Bishops encourage immigrants not to learn the language of the land, they are not respecting our heritage, but encouraging division.
An egregious example of more empty words by a Shepherd of the people. Any wonder the teachings of the Church are ignored?
The real scandal wasn’t simple that Cardinal Mahoney was in attendance but that he was so prominently displayed in choir dress.
The scandal and arrogance that he brought to the church in Los Angeles is something that we need to make reparations for: not something to display as one of our crown jewels.
We need to be a church of humility, charity, and service. Saint Mary, pray for us.
Roger Mahony also in part caused the Diocese of Stockton to recently go bankrupt due to Mahony’s aiding an abetting of child abusers when he headed up that Dicoese from 1980 – 1985.
I just love California Catholic Daily News! Where else can we get such news, information, and insight that helps us with our own spiritual awareness and Catholic formation.
I was under the impression that Cardinal Mahony was a disgraced prelate.
That Mahony is not ostracized but given a place of honor and recognition tells us that the California bishops are rotten to the core. No amount of silk or brocade robes and medieval white miter hats can cover up such sinfulness.
We are all in agreement on this sham Bishop Gomez.
Shame on all you who rushed to praise him before he ever did anything of note to justify that praise. Now we know he too is just one more BIG ?????
Please don’t be too quick to judge – Pope Francis would not back Archbishop Gomez’ decision regarding Mahony.
No dice, Linda. The reversal of Apb. Gomez’s orders (in letter dated February 15, 2013) was prior to the election of Pope Francis.
Roger Mahony’s public scandal, aiding and abetting of child abusers etc. is all PUBLIC Court Documented information.
https://documents.latimes.com/los-angeles-archdiocese-priest-abuse-files/
We must always side with the TRUTH, to clear the filth from the Church.
Not sweep things under the carpet.
Jesus told us to “judge with right judgment” – Jn 7″24
(And to take the log out of our own eye BEFORE we take the splinter out of our Brother’s eye; and we will be judged by the same measure with which we judge.)
The sooner the Church starts removing from all public view, Cardinals and Bishops who aid and abet, the better.
Aside from the Young Lives so deeply harmed – the loss of Treasure that could have done so much good (and perhaps prevented economic immigration by helping at home) is much more the fault of the ‘Leadership’ like Mahony.
The Billion$ of dollars (about 40% going to Enrich Attorneys) awarded by Juries and in settlements were largely influenced by the Repeated Abuse – where Known Abusers were transferred to unsuspecting parishes (where they did it all over again) by the lavender mafia eager to cover up for the rot they were part of.
Isolated incidents, no matter how horrid, can be understood as ‘bad apples’ slipping by the ‘watchdogs’ – but when the Guardians of the Faith (and the Young) are the ones putting the wolves in to the fold…
Shame, Shame, Shame beyond words…
People, people!
This ordination took place in SACRAMENTO, where Archbishop Gomez and Archbishop Cordileone have no power.
Furthermore, I doubt Archbishop Gomez has the “power” to say that a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church cannot take part in events in other diocoeses, even if he WANTED to.
Now, if the VATICAN were to put Cardinal Mahoney under interdict, that would be binding — but these other guys can’t do anything.
You are correct. Archbishop Gomez has no authority over Cardinal Mahony. I believe Archbishop Gomez’ initial reaction was based on emotion. Canon law does not support him and he has not gone through with it.
Cardinal Mahony leaves behind a legacy of shame and horror, the likes of which this Archdiocese has never seen, or will see again…Pope Francis should muzzle this man and strip him of his title and faculties as priest…
Canon Law DOES allow for the removal of Cardinals / Bishops (Loss of Eccliastical Office) by RESIGNATION, TRANSFER, REMOVAL, and PRIVATION.
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM
In addition, Abp Gomex has full authority within the LA Diocese to determine who can and cannot preach and teach the “Catholic Faith”.
Gomez also has control over all properties owned by the Catholic Church in his Diocese, and therefore can control who speaks or acts upon the property.
” Can. 391 §1. It is for the diocesan bishop to govern the particular church entrusted to him with legislative, executive, and judicial power according to the norm of law.
Can. 392 §1. Since he must protect the unity of the universal Church, a bishop is bound to promote the common discipline of the whole Church and therefore to urge the observance of all ecclesiastical laws.
Can. 394 §1. A bishop is to foster various forms of the apostolate in the diocese and is to take care that in the entire diocese or in its particular districts, all the works of the apostolate are coordinated under his direction, with due regard for the proper character of each.
Can. §396 2. A bishop is permitted to choose the clerics he prefers as companions and assistants on a visitation; any contrary privilege or custom is reprobated.”
Gomez also can control Catholic schools, universities, etc – that advertise themselves as “Catholic”.
And don’t tell me that Gomez can not control what he allows on his own Diocese web site – which honors Mahoney.
Within a few days of Archbishop Gomez’s statement about Cardinal Mahony, his Excellency released a letter, to be read at all the Masses in the Archdiocese, backtracking his original chastisement. The talk at the time was that the Archbishop had overstepped his authority and not cleared his initial statement with Rome. He simply did not have the authority to do as he did. And anyway, there were plenty of people who were scornful of his statement that he had not been aware of the extent of the abuse until the files were published in the paper — he had been co-adjutor first, and then the Ordinary for almost two years — it hadn’t come up?
From Cardinal Mahony’s Blog:
“It was in early 1988—some 26 years ago—that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles became aware of the terrible sexual abuse which the Rev. Nicolas Aguilar-Rivera had been inflicting upon young people in Los Angeles. This case highlighted errors made by us in the Archdiocese in those early years, and for those errors I apologize once again. But this case also led to several major changes in procedures used by the Archdiocese, and these were improved upon over the years.”
Over and over this man has said he is sorry. Why are you unforgiving?
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants…’ If you don’t know this teaching of Christ it is in Matthew 18:23-35.
Cardinal Mahony should stay out of the public arena, as part of his penance. I know this would be difficult for him because of his pride and political activism.
And he should offer to pay back part of the Faithful’s Diocese money out of his own wealth.
Too many people were hurt, the Faithful were scandalized, Catholics are still chastised today for these sins of some Bishops and Priests, and many non-Catholics will not consider the Catholic Church because of it.
Any dope would know that you do not allow child abuses near children. And that when they abuse children they belong in jail. Mahoney’s Dicoese was fine approx. $700 million for his role in aiding and abetting. If it were not for the aiding and abetting, the fines would not have been levied.
Read the Court documents made public – Mahoney was transferring around abusers, and they then attacked other children.
Why Anon, because this man should disappear from the public scene completely.
It would be easy to forgive if Mahoney had learned from his mistakes in 1988. The problem is that many of the abuse cases happened after 1988. For Mahoney, it was business as usual where he says one thing yet does another. He then compounded the situation by obstructing the Sheriff’s office investigation which brought even further shame on his diocese and the Church.
Oh, I was remiss to add. Mahoney has asked for forgiveness but his actions don’t reflect this. With Mahoney, since words are cheap but actions speak volumes, has Majoney actually asked for forgiveness?
Why are we, meaning virtually all Catholics and non-Catholics alike, unforgiving? Because this man has gotten away with criminal behavior, enabling child abusers at the expense of children, profoundly damaged innocent Catholic human beings, mostly children and teenagers, including myself in a manner that resulted directly in the deaths of two of my close family members, and has damaged the Catholic Church, including shocked laity and good priests, and . . . wait for it . . . has not paid for his offenses. Words of apology do not forgive debts. Mahoney, as with so many members of Church leadership, have quite a way with words, which are well chosen but not worth much on the open market.
That you have no compassion for the victims of priests, in my case two dead victims in my family who died directly as a result of shocking and indefensible priestly behavior, and all the people and the Church itself were harmed, tells me that you support the actions of a person who belongs in jail, and thus puts into question your correct understanding of the proper reaction to evil. Evil is not to be tolerated, though we are to strive to forgive those who are evil so that we ourselves are not contaminated by negativity, which blocks love for our fellow man. While the perpetrator goes footloose and fancy free, we victims are left with the impossible task of understanding how priests could be so filled with evil as to harm us so profoundly; why, why, why, and furthermore why me, afflicts our mental capacities for the rest of our lives, which makes forgiveness tough indeed. When our Church leadership aids in the perpetration of evil, mouths a few well-chosen and doubtless well-vetted words meant to appease the masses, and pays nothing for their own complicity, the task of forgiveness seems to require a saint. I am not a saint, but my soul has been damaged for life, despite my daily struggle to escape the clutches of evil that still strangle my mind. The two people who are dead as a result of priestly abuse of position will remain dead for the rest of eternity.
It is impossible for me to forgive any of the priests who are responsible for the death of two of the members of my family and/or the damage to any other innocent, trusting Catholic child (or adult), nor the archbishops who sanctioned this behavior by covering it up and transferring abusive priests to new potential victims of criminal priests. I am no saint, but the pain lessens slightly year by year, decade by decade. Perhaps if I were to live another few thousand years, I could achieve complete forgiveness. Until then, I will keep working on the endless task of forgiving evil priests and those who enabled them and protected them while directly shoving our Catholic children, teenagers and a few adults in front of the bus . . . and getting away with murder.
It makes my heart ache to read once again of your experiences Maryanne. But I thank you for sharing that pain, and do pray for healing in your and your family’s hearts.
How did what happened to you cause your relatives to die?
were they twins that you Mom made you abort?
Anything Mahony states on his blog is subject to his own interpretation and his own sin of pride.
He also publically stated in the press that he was being made a “SCAPEGOAT”, – – – UNTIL the Court Documents of his evil deeds were made public.
https://documents.latimes.com/los-angeles-archdiocese-priest-abuse-files/
Roger Mahony can not be believed. His credibility is in the toilet.
We will not know if he is sorry for his sins, or sorry for getting caught.
He should stay out of the public; he just gives fodder to all those who hate the Church based upon his actions and those of his ilk.
Of course there is little to no leadership in the Archdiocese, just look at the ridiculous Mass at the LA Religious Education Congress. Looked more like a pagan ceremony to Gaia than the Holy Sacrifice of Mass.
Dear Anonymous,
You miss the essential point—-that Cardinal Mahony did know about the abuses but refused to report these crimes to law enforcement.
Justice demands that he not only apologize but pay a penalty such as jail time.
Archbishop José Gomez has issued the following clarification:
“Questions from the faithful and some members of the news media indicate that it would be helpful for me to clarify the status of Cardinal Roger Mahony and Bishop Thomas Curry.
“Cardinal Mahony, as Archbishop Emeritus, and Bishop Curry, as Auxiliary Bishop, remain bishops in good standing in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with full rights to celebrate the Holy Sacraments of the Church and to minister to the faithful without restriction.” -Archbishop Gomez, Feb. 1, 2013.
And you all think Pope Francis says confusing things!
Proving that his previous statements were merely posturing for the sake of public relations. Nice try, Archbishop Gomez, but being Southern Californians, we have learned to discern the difference between reality and script reading.
This is an outrage !
Mahony and Curry -who have aided and abetted child rape –
“Cardinal Mahony, as Archbishop Emeritus, and Bishop Curry, as Auxiliary Bishop, remain bishops in good standing in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with full rights to celebrate the Holy Sacraments of the Church and to minister to the faithful without restriction.” -Archbishop Gomez, Feb. 1, 2013.
Gomez must have no morals either.
This is stinking, rotten, evil behavior all the part of all 3 of them.
OK, the Cardinal was at the ordination! Instead of always dealing with the negatives, the real story should have been the ordination itself. If you had watched the ordination on television, you would have been impressed that a man of the people was raised to the episcopacy. The liturgy, sung for the most part, with readings in Portuguese and Spanish, singing in Latin, the well done Litany of the Saints, the wonderful homily and exortation by Bishop Soto would have been the lead story. The emphasis was on serving the poor, prayer life and sanctification. Why so much on the negative and so little on the positive?
Because this is CCD. What else would you expect?
There is a difference between righteous outrage when appropriate, Not My Fellow Catholic, and being negative for the sake of negativity. CCD has done so much for Catholics in California and elsewhere who read it that I am surprised (though I shouldn’t be I suppose) that you would make such a snide remark about CCD. It has done more for Catholicism in California simply by providing a forum for us all, if nothing else, than most Catholics do throughout their entire lives to make the world a better place for us all.
I submit that CCD is a worthy platform for disseminating information of deep interest to faithful Catholics and bends over backwards to let people post comments meant to express Catholics views of all kinds. It even allows all sorts of people a form on which to vent frustration, and indignation as well, even when sometimes the commenter is out of line, and even an enemy of Catholicism, whether openly hostile or hiding behind a moniker that seems not to apply upon further examination. I’ll leave you and to other readers to decide for yourself and each reader to which posters are righteously indignant and which are merely outrageously anti-Catholic trolls attacking true Catholics on even the most obviously honorable positions.
…because dressing up a pig, even in the most glorious of clothes and perfume, fools nobody. That’s why, Bob One. So while all the so called ‘positives’ are there the glaring reality of business as usually is the REAL story. It’s also called a slap in the face. To God… and to those with eyes to see and Faith to give a darn.
But whereas, look at the positives, may work for some with regards to religion, I dare say the same would not be said of even what they’ll eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. After all, one must consider one’s health!!!
The article is about Roger Mahony continuing to put his face out in the public after his grave SCANDAL, and his aiding and abetting in the sexual abuse of children.
And that Abp Gomez has been allowing Mahony to be active in the LA Diocese through REC, etc. And that others should not allow him to be active within their Dicoese either.
This is a slap in the face of all moral persons.
Public Court Documents prove that Mahony sent known abusive Priests to other States etc, because of the child abuse laws for crimes commited in CA.
Los Angeles Archdiocese: Priest abuse files
https://documents.latimes.com/los-angeles-archdiocese-priest-abuse-files/
Others have added and rightfully so, that he should offer to pay something toward fines due to his actions imposed upon the Diocese since he is a very wealthy man. To date the Diocese has had to pay $700 MILLION, and this is not over.
Because Bob One, the presence of Mahony is a scandal, he belongs in prison for the damage he caused to the diocese of LA and the entire Church. I know its hard for liberals to go after one their champions but this man is a complete disgrace
Canisius, I agree with you. The Cardinal is a disgrace. I am not a legal expert, so I don’t know if he belongs in jail. My comment, was simply to urge that we get on a more positive vein in reporting on and commenting on what is happening in the church. I would have rather seen an article that highlighted all of the wonderful parts of the ordination Mass, with perhaps a oh-by-the-way-Cardinal Mahoney-was-there-too at the end.
You know well Bob One, that presence of Mahony would overshadow and positive aspect of the Ordination…
In his role as vicar to Cardinal Mahony now Bishop Thomas Curry “raised the possibility of sending an abusive cleric to a psychiatrist who was also an attorney so their conversations would remain legally confidential”, as reported by the LA Times. Mahony and Curry bring great shame to the Catholic Church. They give us a bad name.
Is our Church serious about anything at all? What horrible leadership! Mahoney and many others like him, belong in jail, and should have also been excommunicated, long ago!
Continuing to allow Roger Mahony to participate in any public Catholic gathering or ceremony is a SCANDAL that says to the world – sexual child abuse is not that bad.
(And that many Bishops in the Church still do not consider the mortal sin of scandal, the mortal sin of child abuse, the damage that it has done to the Church and innocent Priests and Laity – of any significance. Just business as usual and cover up for each other.)
Roger Mahony belongs in jail.
Here is the place of honor given to Mahony by Abp Gomez on Gomez’s LA Diocese web page.
https://www.la-archdiocese.org/cardinal/Pages/default.aspx
Does this look to anyone like Abp Gomez has kept his word: ““Effective immediately, I have informed Cardinal Mahony that he will no longer have any administrative or public duties.” ?
Note the reference to Mahony’s blog. Or isn’t this public?
CCC: ” 2285 Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or the weakness of those who are scandalized.
It prompted our Lord to utter this curse: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Scandal is grave when given by those who by nature or office are obliged to teach and educate others. Jesus reproaches the scribes and Pharisees on this account: he likens them to wolves in sheep’s clothing.”
Mt 18:6; 1 Cor 8:10-13; Mt 7:15.
Those Cardinals/Bishops who participated in aiding and abetting child abuse should not be in public view. It continues to give SCANDAL.
Abuse survivor says new Vatican commission must achieve real change –
” The lone clerical abuse survivor nominated by Pope Francis to sit on the new Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors said the commission needs to achieve concrete change in order to “show other survivors that the Church is going to get it right .”
https://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2014/03/25/abuse-survivor-says-new-vatican-commission-must-achieve-real-change/
In the meantime, Mahony should swallow his PRIDE that he knows more than everyone else, and restrict all his public activities. He would do this if he truly cared about the Church.
This is to Kenneth M. Fisher about the REC. Did you see this?
“Congress,” as it is familiarly known, has a certain reputation for heterodoxy in the wider Catholic community, as indicated by a number of tweets I saw last Friday; but I’m pleased to say that the only Catholic heterodoxy I encountered personally was represented by the protestors for women’s ordination outside the convention center. They weren’t doing much, just sitting or standing there quietly; I never heard any of them say anything.
There was also a small group from some fundamentalist congregation or other (it wasn’t clear which, or what large group they might be associated with) who were haranguing the crowd about the evil of certain Catholic doctrines; they had video cameras and microphones and, peculiarly, two booms from which were hanging red-stained sanitary napkins. I imagine they were trying to provoke an angry reaction from the crowd, but the most I saw in response was a half-circle of twenty or so Catholics chanting “MA-RI-A! MA-RI-A!”
There was one lady—I don’t know what group she was with—who walked up and down the walkway outside the convention center calling out that she had “bi-lingual flyers”. She never said anything about what was on the fliers, and I still don’t know. She wasn’t wearing any kind of uniform, and I kind of figured that it was protest material of some sort.
And the sanitary napkins were supposed to convey the messege that……???
Sounds like it was a circus out there … a bad circus!
Any statements that are in opposition to the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Editon” are heterodoxical (violate the teaching of the Church).
In fact by Church definition – this is heresy, schism, or apostacy.
CCC: ” 2089 INCREDULITY is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it.
HERESY is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same;
APOSTACY is the total repudiation of the Christian faith;
SCHSIM is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.”
How many CCC’s did you find at REC?
How many times was the CCC referred to at REC?
How many CCC’s were available for sale at REC?
Those who have never read the CCC in entirety may not recognize heresy or schism, when they see or hear it.
“….. let us ask ourselves if we have actually taken a few steps to get to know Christ and the truths of faith more, by reading and meditating on the Scriptures, studying the Catechism, steadily approaching the Sacraments.” Pope Francis, May 15, 2013.
I agree with your post but I also want to point out that those who have never read the CCC in its entirety may not recognize orthodoxy when they see or hear it.
Now, I assume your are a catechist. I would like your help. Every time I try to study the CCC I get bogged down in things that I don’t understand.
Can you explain to me these two of my latest “over my head” passages?:
32: “starting from movement, becoming, contingency and the world’s order and beauty, one can come to a knowledge of God as the origin and the end of the universe.” (I assume whole books have been written on this and it would take a long time to explain it so if you could even just give a reference I would appreciate it.)
56-58 especially “The covenant with Noah after the flood gives expression to the principle of the divine economy toward the “nation,” in other words, toward men grouped “in their lands, each with [its] own language, by their families, in their nations.” and The covenant with Noah remains in force during the times of the Gentiles, until the universal proclamation of the Gospel.” (Again, I would appreciate references if it is too long to address here.)
Sorry I forgot the link
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/crywoof/2014/03/religious-education-congress-2/
I was a victim of clergy/religious abuse as well…these evildoers who perpetrate these ignominious acts will answer on the “Day of Judgement”…God will not be mocked…those who abuse the “powerful station” they have been vouchsafed with…and who have instead used it as a means to debauch and seduce the innocent will most assuredly answer…the road to Hell is paved with the skulls of bishops and clerics who have broken their vows…and instead used the collar and crozier as a means to live a life replete with self- indulgence and sexual promiscuity, will be assigned to the hottest rungs of Hell…as assuredly as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west…the evildoers will answer to Our Lord, when the Book of Life is Opened…
Amen. Thank you for your post, Major Charles Rane. Please know I admire you for posting your name as a victim of clergy/religious abuse, and I agree with your comments completely, which are based on Biblical truths. I wish you continuing courage and strength in speaking the truth and wish you my heartfelt best in your journey.
All of us who are survivors deserve the justice that it seems will come only on Judgment Day, when Our Lord will put everything to rights. In the meantime, may God bless you and yours always.
All of us who are victims of clergy are challenged to bear in mind remember that all human beings we encounter will be secondarily affected by our damaged hearts, minds and souls. While standing united against evil wherever we encounter it, we need also to pray that we give innocent others in our lives the best we have to offer, letting God’s pure love flow through us to them.
To the best of our ability to remember to look up, appreciate, and celebrate sunshine, birdsong, and all God’s endless gifts, we can learn again to trust God’s endless love to heal our wounded hearts.
Amen. I will continue to pray for you Major and all others that have been hurt by those in authority.
Next year “CRCOA, Inc.” will have banners stating what Arch. Gomez said about Mahony when he allegedly banned Mahony from the REC and from any Archdiocesan events followed by the simple statement: “Archbishop Gomez, WHAT HAS CHANGED?” We will by doing so be challenging the cooked frogs who still attend this charade to actually THINK!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
I just finished watching the youtube video of the closing liturgy of the 2014 REC. Anyone who doesn’t think that that was a great service of adoration of our God just doesn’t understand the Catholic Church of 2014. It was wonderful. The sacred movement part was great, the music was outstanding and the reverence of the people in the pews was amazing. It is liturgies like this that will bring people back to Christ. This is the future of the Church.
Did the Mass adhere 100% to GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) as required by the Church ?
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html
There are beautiful Protestant and Hindu services when looking only at the human element.
Sandra, I just reviewed the GIRM on the Vatican website. I would say that the Mass at the REC was in full compliance with the rules. On the other hand, I’m not a canon lawyer.
“This is the future of the Church.” Then the future is very very dark… Bob One we have had 50 years of these novelties and still mass attendance drops….once the hierarchy admits that Vatican 2 has failed and starts over than we can look towards a future..
It is good, once in a while, to remember that we here in the US only represent 6% of Catholics around the world. Our background is very Eurocentric. When you travel to non-European countries, the manner of celebrating the Mass is different and has different music, etc. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the same, but the rest tends to be in the local language, includes local musical instruments, etc. We may enjoy the old ways, but they are not what the rest of the world knows. Also, other cultures do not think the way we do.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
” For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds .”
Cardinal Mahoney has been parish hopping for the past year. What do I mean by this? Every weekend he offers Holy Mass in a different parish throughout the archdiocese of Los Angeles.
An above poster stated that Bishop Gomez has no power to regulate Cardinal Mahoney’s actions. My question is, does a pastor of a parish have the right to refuse Cardinal Mahoney’s request to come to his parish to offer Holy Mass?
Tracy, it’s the other way around. Pastors are inviting Cardinal Mahony to say Mass at their parishes. The people here may deny it, but the majority of Catholics in Los Angeles have forgiven Cardinal Mahony for his past mistakes.
For further reflection, from Fr. Angel Sotelo:
1) “Justice in the Church”
https://fatherangel.tumblr.com/post/79049758187/justice-in-the-church
2) “On Punishing Those Who Run An Organization”
https://fatherangel.tumblr.com/post/79597838797/on-punishing-those-who-run-an-organization
The Diocese Bishop is 100% in charge of all the Parishes within his Diocese – per the Code of Canon Law.
However Gomez sends the message that sexual child abuse is not that bad, and protecting evil Priests at all costs is OK.
Any Parish Pastor that invites Mahony is sending the same message, – defending evil.
I read the first article by Fr. Sotelo, and could not even finish it. It is this type of defense of evil that allowed more and more children to be abused.
Apparently Sotelo did not read the public Court Documents to know that truth of what happened. –
https://documents.latimes.com/los-angeles-archdiocese-priest-abuse-files/
No the sheep have not forgiven Mahony. Mahony is being foisted upon them by Gomez and some Pastors. When they parade Mahony as an “honored guest” in front of those who have been abused – what a crushing emotional reminder of the devastation of their childhood !
CCC: ” 1868 Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them:
– by participating directly and voluntarily in them;
– by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them;
– by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so;
– by protecting evil-doers.”
Pedophilia is a MORTAL SIN. Any sexual abuse perpetrated by adults on children or adolescents entrusted to their care is compounded by the scandalous harm done to the physical and moral integrity of the young, who will remain scarred by it all their lives; and the violation of responsibility for their Religious upbringing.
Mohony had an obligation to disclose the evil to civil authorities, and to hinder evil Priests from harming additional children. Instead he moved them from Parish to parish so they could strike again, and again, and again.
Do they care about our children, or merely each other ? ? ?
Sandra, have you read this article and the files?
‘Vatican impeded Mahony attempts to remove priests, files show’:
https://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mahony-vatican-20130216,0,57657,full.story
Kevin Barmasse’s file:
https://clergyfiles.la-archdiocese.org/files/Barmasse,%20Kevin.pdf
Arwyn Diesta’s file:
https://clergyfiles.la-archdiocese.org/files/Diesta,%20Arwyn.pdf
He may be forgiven, but he is still despised…you can forgive, but NEVER forget the abominable activity that transpired while he was the acting Archbishop of this Archdiocese…he is a horrible and shameful example of a “Prince of the Church”…
Jane, Cardinal Mahony is not a stupid man. The (notice the YEAR) Code of Canon Law updated in*** YEAR 1983*** gives each Diocese Bishop the AUTHORITY –
“Can. 390 A diocesan bishop can perform pontifical functions in his entire diocese but not outside his own diocese without the express, or at least reasonably presumed, consent of the local ordinary.”
Mahony did not need permission to refuse any Priest from being active within his own Diocese. And Mahony certainly never had an excuse for transferring abusive Priests around so they could abuse again.
YEAR 2002 – from Pope John Paul II to Bishops – which proves that the Pope only knew about the child abuse for a few months, and wrote this letter to US Bishops
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P1E.HTM
” People need to know that there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young.”
To have sex with anyone who is not one’s valid spouse has been a MORTAL SIN since the beginning.
Quotes from Jesus: – Mt 18.6 – “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
and
Lk 17:2 ” It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.”
Is anyone insinuating that Mahony, Bernardin, Law, and Weak, did not have a clue what the Bible stated?
Is anyone insinuating that Mahony, Bernardin, Law, and Weak, did not know that sexual activity outside of marriage is a Mortal Sin ?
(These men were not stupid; and we are not stupid enough to know that they did not know right from wrong.)
This past Sunday’s second reading from St. Paul (Eph 5:8-14) – “…expose them…”.
Could anyone possible believe that these Diocesan leaders never heard of this ?
Sandra, there are a few issues at play. If a priest is to be suspended then there needs to be some kind of canonical judgment against him. I’m not sure how easy that is to do without something from the Vatican. If a priest is not suspended then he essentially has a right to an assignment and can petition the Vatican to force the Bishop to give him an assignment. It doesn’t have to be a parish, however, that doesn’t solve the problem because the priest could still help out at other parishes or Catholic schools on his off time and establish connections with children. On top of that, even when suspended a priest has the right to be provided for by his diocese. The diocese can’t just cut him loose unless he’s been “defrocked.”
So I can understand why the US Bishops would be keen on getting these guys removed from priesthood as quickly as possible. Otherwise they’re essentially stuck with them.
Since the Dallas Charter in 2002, the process moves almost lightning quick unless there are overly complicated circumstances.
Jane,
There is a huge difference between being “defrocked”, and being allowed to publically participate in “Catholic” functions within a Diocese.
Yes, being defrocked requires a Court of Canon Law, if the Priest objects.
But this has nothing to do with the authority of a Diocese Bishop to stop any Priest from publically participating in Church functions within the Bishop’s Diocese. This is Canon Law.
A Bishop has full authority within his Diocese, and you are confusing the separate issues of defrocking, and not being permitted to publically participate.
If the Pope wants to defrock a priest, he is “basically” defrocked…the “court of canon law” requirement in this instance is mere formality.
Deb, Archbishop Gomez does not have the authority to limit a cardinal’s ministry, which is reserved to the pope.
Canon 357, Paragraph 2: “Cardinals living outside Rome and outside their own diocese, are exempt in what concerns their person from the power of governance of the Bishop of the diocese in which they are residing.”
What Archbishop Gomez has done is that Cardinal Mahony can no longer formally represent him or the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in his absence. As I have mentioned in an earlier comment, Archbishop Gomez’s clarification that Cardinal Mahony is a “bishop in good standing in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with full rights to celebrate the Holy Sacraments of the Church and to minister to the faithful without restriction.” My point is that this whole article is much ado about nothing. The ordination of Bishop Myron Cotta took place in the Diocese of Sacramento, outside the jurisdiction of Archbishop Gomez. If Bishop Cotta was ordained a priest by Cardinal Mahony, then it is only traditional to invite him to the ceremony and have him vest in choir as the highest ranking prelate in attendance.
Right, Jane, so child molesters, and those who aided and abbetted them, should be allowed to concelbrate ordination masses anywhere they are invited. Is that what you are saying?
If Mahony did not know that child rape was against the law, he does not have the mental capacity to be in a member of the clergy.
He belongs in jail for aiding and abetting child rape.
And the Church should defrock him.
The same goes for deceased Cardinals Bernardin, Weak, and Law.
They are just a guilty as those who committed the crimes.
I would ask the same thing of the parents who chose not to report these matters to the police and to keep it as a private matter between the bishop and their family.
Oh, so Jane, it’s the parent’s fault that the priests couldn’t keep their hands to themselves? is THAT what you are saying?
No, I’m saying that the parents are also guilty for not reporting the crimes of the priest to the police.
YFC said: “Right, Jane, so child molesters, and those who aided and abbetted them, should be allowed to concelbrate ordination masses anywhere they are invited. Is that what you are saying?”
YFC, you need to be careful with your statement. It’s going into Neo-Donatist territory.