The following comes from a March 16 story in the CalCoastNews.
Lawyers for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles have asked a judge to delay four sex abuse trials or move them to San Luis Obispo County because they don’t believe a fair, impartial jury can be found in Southern California. [LATimes]
Shortly after two brothers were awarded an unprecedented $4 million, the church asked a judge for a delay or change of venue in pending cases
“We think that the environment in Los Angeles today is currently hostile,” archdiocese lawyer J. Michael Hennigan said to the Los Angeles Times.
Archdiocese attorneys blame media coverage, which they describe as “unrelenting obloquy, condemnation and contempt,” for poisoning the potential jury pool, according to court documents.
On Tuesday, the church asked Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Emilie H. Elias to have four suits concerning a Mexican priest accused of abusing more than two dozen boys in L.A. be moved to San Luis Obispo County. If the move is denied, the church asked for a trial delay of at least six months to allow what Hennigan called a “cooling-off period.”
Judges rarely permit changes in venue, said Richard Gabriel, a jury consultant to the Los Angeles Times.
Child molestation cases “engender very high emotions and very strong feelings,” Gabriel said. “When you have a metropolitan area of 8 to 10 million people, it’s pretty hard to say that out of that many, you can’t find a fair and impartial jury.”
To read the original story, click here.
I don’t believe San Luis Obispo’s jurors would help out the attorneys representing these degenerates… still unclear why they would want this to go to trial, to fight these allegations? Once these plaintiffs get on the stand and the lurid tales of sexual deviance with adolescent males is presented, damage control will go out the window… if this case goes to trial, these plaintiffs will walk away with MILLIONS!
From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland:
“‘No, no!’ said the Queen. ‘Sentence first – verdict afterwards.’
‘Stuff and nonsense!’ said Alice loudly. ‘The idea of having the sentence first!’
‘Hold your tongue!’ said the Queen, turning purple.
‘I won’t!’ said Alice.
‘Off with her head!’ the Queen shouted at the top of her voice.”
Your comment, Taipan, proves the point: these men cannot get a fair trial in LA because people like you have already judged them guilty.
This trial mumbo-jumbo looks like a “stalling” tactic… if these attorneys think they will find sympathy from a jury up north, they are in for a big, big surprise… this priest who bolted, or was spirited away to Mexico, is under a very dark cloud of suspicion, and for very good reason!… if he wants to clear his good name (dripping with sarcasm), he should return for the trial, get up on the witness stand, and clear his name and reputation… methinks that ain’t gonna happen… uh-uh, he’s hiding for good measure… fear, is the trigger… fear of jail, exposure and the ignominious shame of his depraved behavior.
Sadly…the shameful behavior of these pederast’s begs the bigger question…why don’t “they” feel they can get a fair trial in L.A.?…”when the truth is so ugly…only a lie can be beautiful”…
If CDL. Mahony hadn’t been playing “hide the pederast” so many years ago…these attorneys representing the cardinal and his ilk…wouldn’t be in this shape…now would they?…”by their fruits you shall recognize them”…
The Archbishop needs to get rid of all perverts from his clergy and bureaucracy, legally bring Cdl Mahony to reveal his entire perv network, everyone involved no matter whether politicians, business people civil servants, whatever. Make Cdl Mahony rat out the whole damned network. This is typically brought to a stop somewhere as it lights up the civil luminaries, but at least they can get some of them, and show the world another look at the crud they vote for.
“entire perve network….ROTFLOL!
Anyone care to guess how many children were abused by the actions and/or in-actions of the 115 cardinals who voted on the new pope ? Certainly the number would be much more if cardinal law was there. He was not there simply because of the age limit and not because of the children he did not protect. Even without him I would put the number at 1000-2000. Simply a guess. Could be high or could be low. Anyone else have a guess ?
In the “alleged” network, how much money, prestige and power changed hands due to the bartering and slave trading of young souls??? Temple prostitution is not free. Cardinals do not risk involvement for free. These boys were bought and sold.
That is a grave insult to the victims.
@Skai — I agree. I would also be thrilled to see Pope Francis act quickly against Cardinal Mahony. If he can be a Pope who forgoes routine, he can forgo the usually ad nauseum Vatican investigations.
Particularly in light of the stunning Catholic intellectual tradition, this suggestion by those who are acting in legal defense of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in regard to the criminals protected by then-Archbishop Mahony is baffling; nay, stupifying. Do they think worldwide reports of this criminal behavior on the parts of ordained clergy have failed to reach the eyes and ears of potential jurors in San Luis Obisop County? If I lived in that beautiful, bucolic portion of California, I would be highly insulted at the mere suggestion that my neighbors were so ill-informed. Those who choose to live out their lives in an area known for gentle weather, bucolic serenity, and seaside beauty are not necessarily sufficiently insulted from news of the crimes of Catholic priests, bishops, archbishops and now even cardinals, to be dependably disbelievers of stories of the shocking sexual crimes and horrible behavior committed by ordained Catholic men against innocent, trusting children and against the honor, reputation, and entrusted finances of the Holy Roman Catholic Church itself.
Sorry, I meant to type “insulated,” not insulted.
You and I both know MaryAnne… this is a legal ploy… a lawyer’s ploy… this is just a way to play for time… the inevitable result is settlement… you are bigtime correct… if these legal buffoons think they would get a better shake up in ‘bispo… they are dreamin’… bigtime! If this case goes to trial, the defense will ask to speak to the client who “BOLTED” out of the country… why did he flee, he’s innocent after all?… if they believe in his innocence and seek a trial to expose these “extortionists” who are just trying to gather a windfall, they are going to get “SMOKED” in a court of law… if I was these plaintiffs’ legal counsel, I would plead for a trial by jury! They will get millions more after the verdict comes down… this is smoke and mirrors… they ain’t lookin’ for a trial… they want to hold on to the “bread” as long as they can, before they are forced to cut these “VICTIMS” a check for being sexually assaulted by this predator, who was masquerading as a priest!
remember…by their fruits you shall recognize them…
Pay the money. The Church needs to pay for the crimes of its sons.
Those “sons” “have the devil as their father” (Jesus), not the Church, not God.
Absolutely Skai…some of these pederast priest’s are so saturated with evil…I wouldn’t be surprised if some practice sorcery or witchcraft
They will Mwangi…they will pay. The pederast priest’s who broke their vows and committed “unholy” sacrilege and grave scandal by sexually assaulting these young men, will also pay in the hereafter…proper expiation must be done…the “dross” must be purged… remnants of the slime of pernicious sin, must be purified, in order to find that which is pure and holy. The attorney claiming “they can’t get a fair trial in LA”…is stalling for time nothing more…if this goes to trial, the amount of clergy who will be hauled onto the witness stand for “grilling” will be exhaustive and worse…once some of these wayward clerics are under oath…who knows what new tune of depravity and sacrilege they may sing…
Cdl Roger Mahony should be held accountable – financially as well as legally and morally for knowingly allowing immoral actions to continue within the LA Diocese.
It has already cost $660 million dollars in fines and appears to be still going up.
Cdl Mahoney even took from the dead (money dedicated by contract) from the cemetary fund to pay his fines.
Meanwhile – Cdl Mahony continues to own his personal vacation property, etc.
Diocese money and Diocese assets are not the “personal property” of the Bishop -even though it may be defined legally as such.
A Bishop is responsible for everything “Catholic” within his own Diocese – and must take full and personal responsibility.