Statement of Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles:
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.
From Diocese of Los Angeles website.
From Wikipedia on Bishop Curry:
Resignation from public duties: On 31 January 2013, Curry resigned his post as auxiliary bishop of the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region, in response to the Archdiocese’s release of thousands of pages of files documenting sexual abuse by priests and efforts to cover them up. The files document decisions Curry made in his role as Vicar for Clergy in the years preceding his ordination as auxiliary bishop, which included reportedly interfering with police investigations into abuse claims.
It is curious that the Los Angeles Archdiocese issued a “sua sponte” statement on these two prelates. Since nothing was ever published regarding removal of their priestly faculties, it is understood that they can validly and licitly administer the Sacraments, despite the questionable circumstances underlying the change in the nature of their pastoral oversight status.
The statement may be a prelude of more to come. Stay tuned.
It was Cardinal Mahony standing on a pickup truck several years ago, leading the Communist/Socialist May Day parade in Los Angeles as Gay Pride flags waved in the background and labor unions like SEIU hustled Hispanic families to the front lines for the media to see.
Cardinal Mahony is a fellow traveler with the militantly anti-Catholic, anti-religion cadre of political activists who are strongly pro-abortion.
His Leftist activism was not the reason for his being publcly disgraced. Cardinal Mahony failed to report to the police or District Attorney the alleged crimes of sex abuse among priests, he was barred from public ministry in 2013. One wonders what has changed in the last five years of his exile to Bakersfield?
Has…
They should be avoided as corrupt
Some, if not many, are disappointed in the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. They vote with their feet and checkbooks.
I believe this will not change until all Bishops and Cardinals who abetted priestly child sexual abuse are no longer in active ministry at any level.
Remember, of the original twelve:
One (Judas) was a turncoat;
One (Peter, the first pope) was a thrice denier;
One (John) remained faithful; and
Nine others (the remaining Apostles) chose to vote with their feet and fled Jesus at the time He was Crucified!!!
Yet, the one Universal Catholic Church survived, and it will continue to survive despite the those who attempt to change the deposit of faith.
Very, very dangerous! Whom can we trust?? Keep your children and loved ones far away from all the Masses and Sacraments offered by these criminal prelates! The movie, “Deliver Us From Evil,” is a chilling documentary of the horrific sex abuse crimes, for many long years, of the Irish former priest, “Father” O’Grady– in which prelates like Mahoney— lied, and did nothing!! Mahoney also appears in this documentary. Such prelates should have long ago been laicized, and kicked out of the Church! They are very, very dangerous!
Lou, yes the Church will continue, but many have been and will continue to be lost to the Faith because the Church will defend these criminals. Most people have heard of Cardinal Mahony and the bad things he has done, the payouts, transfer of priests and so on. The other bishop I have not heard of but there is one like him in every diocese. These are corrupt people. The people don’t want that for their “religious” leaders.
Tim,
Thanks and I agree with your analysis. However, Mahony, along with other scoundrels of his ilk, have been leaders of the Church since it first began. The current situation is no different.
God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) allows these things to happen in order to accomplish a greater good which we, in our limited ability to comprehend the Divine plan, are unable to fully understand. The one thing that we want, due to our limited intellect, is swift retribution in out own time-frame. Let’s leave it up to the Almighty in His infinite wisdom, to deal with this latest set of difficulties.
Vadis in Pacem,
Lou
My understanding is that no one can take away a Bishops ability to administer the sacraments. Once a Bishop, always a Bishop. They can make it illicit (unlawful Canonically) for a Bishop but the sacraments would still be valid.
The first thing that comes to mind is that parents who thought the current archbishop would administer Confirmation were probably stunned when the Cardinal showed up–especially given the negative publicity he has cultivated over the years. They were probably just as disappointed as when Milwaukee parents found out that their former archbishop, Rembert Weakland, is also a bishop “in good standing”.
Time to sit down Excellencies.