Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Salazar of Los Angeles Wednesday after the archdiocese’s oversight board found a prior allegation of misconduct with a minor to be credible.
Salazar’s alleged misconduct, which is said to have occurred while he was a parish priest in the 1990s, was previously investigated by both law enforcement in 2002 and the Vatican’s Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, which imposed precautionary measures on the bishop’s ministry after 2005.
“In the interest of due process, I requested and received permission from the Congregation for Bishops at the Holy See to submit the allegation to the Archdiocese’s independent Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board,” Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles said in a letter released Dec. 19.
“The Board found the allegation to be credible and I submitted its findings and recommendations along with my own votum to the Holy See to make its final determination as to Bishop Salazar’s status,” Gomez continued.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles said in the statement that they were made aware of the allegation in 2005, one year after Salazar’s appointment as an auxiliary bishop.
“Cardinal Roger Mahony, who was Archbishop when the Archdiocese was informed of the allegation, requested an immediate review of the case with law enforcement officials,” the statement said. The District Attorney did not file charges after the investigation.
Salazar has consistently denied any wrongdoing since the allegation was first brought forward, according to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
Second grade math says 18 minus 5 is 13 — years to reach a decision since allegations made. What took so long? Granted, the Bishop is entitled to make his defense. But the saying is ‘justice delayed is justed denied’.
Remember, Mahony was Archbishop at the time of the initial allegation. Need we say more?
And why was he made a bishop— AFTER the law enforcement investigation found credible evidence of his crimes??
It never ends. How much more will the People of God put up with?
Now it has been determined that the allegation is “credible”? What has changed between now and then? Is it because Roger (“the dodger”) Mahony isn’t in a position of authority now, which would otherwise enable him to obstruct an investigation?
Did the statute of limitations on criminal prosecution lapse?
Is there something that has recently come to light?
Next domino to fall — Illinois, Cdl. Cupich’s home turf:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-illinois-attorney-general-catholic-priest-abuse-20181219-story.html
Article states Archdiocese learned of allegations one year AFTER he became a Bishop.
A more in-depth investigation word want to inquire why the police found the allegation credible but the district attorney decided not to file charges. Was there any influence on the Los Angeles district attorney from the archdiocese as they commonly did in the good old days? This has the stain of Roder Mahony all over it.
The stain of Mahoney is all over the western United States. Very similar to the stain of McCarrick all over the United States and the influence that demon had at the Vatican.
When is the diocese of Fresno going to publish their list? They currently have three priest under investigation. It would be interesting to see those names.
And if you look at the state of Illinois where it was found out that the very is…
This news analysis may provide some more amplification:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/romes-wishy-washy-responses-to-abuse-allegations-cannot-stand
Nevertheless, the leaders of the Church MUST be beyond reproach, actually and in appearance.
It would help to stop ordaining homosexuals. That would be a step in the right direction.
No, it wouldn’t. At least a fifth of abuse happenned at the hands of straight priests. Unless the coverup is understood and dealt with, ordaining only straight men only kicks the abuse can down the road.
So you don’t approve of even an initial step to immediately get rid of 80% of abuse and abusers because they are in your pet identity category? That’s exactly the mentality of Mahony, McCarrick, Wuerl, and so many others who didn’t want to upset the Lavender Mafia. That’s exactly the mentality that allowed so much bad behavior to go on, worsen, and get covered up. A statement like that means you’re not serious about ending clerical sexual misconduct. Homosexuality is obviously the major factor. No more covering it up! Let’s have real solutions!
The road maybe long but it always comes in the end.