Cardinal Roger Mahony, retired archbishop of Los Angeles, withdrew Monday as the keynote speaker at next month’s annual fundraising dinner for Utah’s Catholic diocese after hearing of potential protests about his alleged role in covering up priest sex abuse in Southern California in the 1980s.
Mahony decided to decline the invitation after recent reports of abuse — including the explosive grand jury finding that more than 300 priests in six Pennsylvania dioceses had abused at least 1,000 victims over 70 years — and the call from Pope Francis “for greater accountability,” diocesan spokeswoman Jean Hill said.
In 2013, Mahony’s L.A. successor, Archbishop Jose Gomez, barred him from any public duties, according to the National Catholic Reporter, which said the reason for the move was Mahony’s “alleged failures to protect young people from sexually abusive priests — documented in court filings in recent years.”
Mahony was a seminary classmate and longtime friend of the late Archbishop George H. Niederauer, who led the Beehive State’s Catholics from 1994 to 2005. The affable Niederauer died in 2017 at 80.
Utah’s current bishop, Oscar A. Solis, worked with Mahony in Los Angeles as an auxiliary bishop before coming to Utah last year.
In the aftermath of the Pennsylvania report, Solis said he was “stunned, enraged and scandalized by the past and recent revelations of these misdeeds and the mishandling of allegations of abuse by some of our church authorities.”
Full story at The Salt Lake Tribune.
Stop inviting him already!! What’s the matter with you, Salt Lake City diocese?? Let him live outside of the public eye, most people of goodwill have had enough of him. Bad move SLC, be thankful he has dropped out.
In 2013, Mahony’s L.A. successor, Archbishop Jose Gomez, barred him from any public duties, according to the National Catholic Reporter….but Arb. Gomez let him continue in public duties and never tried to stop him.
Gomez is all talk no follow-through, like so many bishops. So disappointing. He’s never going to clean up the Anaheim Religious Education Congress.
Shouldn’t have been invited nor scheduled in the first place. Shouldn’t have any public role in the Church anymore ever. Retire in solitude and quiet. Disappear. That’s what the faithful want from him. These clerics think they’re so important. All they do is cover, provide for and protect each other.
Fundraiser? If I lived in Utah, that’s one I would be certain to miss. If Abp. Gomez has prohibited Cardinal Mahoney making public appearances, the invitation from the Utah Bishop seems in VERY poor form.
As an amplification, it was Cdl. Mahony who had a direct impact on the Los Angeles Archdiocese having to pay $650 million in settlements for the abuse crisis which he oversaw and did nothing.
Now, having that same individual participate in a fund-raising venture defies all logic.
Hahaha, oh Roger, you rogue! They got you now. But, seriously, Rog, you are getting on in years. There is no need to worry. Just relax, enjoy your gains in life. Perhaps you will live long; lots to savor. But, what, wait, what did Jesus say about the foolish rich man that said he would eat, drink and be merry: “But God said to him: Thou fool, this night do they require thy soul of thee: and whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20).
Time to get to the confessional Roger, before . . . well, you know the rest.
Go see the film “Deliver Us From Evil”– Cardinal Mahony is in this documentary, as well as others, regarding clergy child sex molesters, exposing his evils of lying and covering-up priests who were filthy criminal child sex predators.
Linda Maria, again spot on ! this should be viewed by clergy and laity alike .
Not “child-molesters”. Homosexual abusers. Let’s be clear on our terms!
Read today’s reading (August 22) from Ezekiel, chapter 34. Something to reflect upon in light of the many weaknesses in today’s clergy.
My wife is scandalized every time we’ve seen Cardinal Mahoney at a major event [such as an ordination of a bishop or the dedication of a cathedral].
It suggests that our current leadership does not significantly disapprove of his conduct when he was Archbishop of Los Angeles.
Mahony also speaks at the Anaheim Religious Ed Congress.
Mrs. Seitz, take out your phone, walk up to Mahoney and ask if he is a homosexual. While he recoils in disbelief at your audacity, be sure to capture his response and let it go viral. Homosexuality is at the root of much that is wrong with the Church today and Mahoney is a major player in the whole sordid mess. Cause a little scandal yourself, ma’am, God Bless!
“Affable” Niederauer?
When Neiderauer was in charge in San Francisco, he protected and promoted the homsexual community, especially at Most Holy Redeemer Church which flew the gay flag!
It was also Niederauaer who gave Holy Communion to the outrageous “Sisters of Perpetual INdulgence” in full drag costume!
These were Mahony’s friends The real problem now is that errant bishops are not laicized. Instead they are kept on the payroll and allowed to give speeches in Utah!
In reading this I began shouting expletive after expletive, WHO in the name of all that is holy would consider drunk or sober that this person would be a draw for a fundraiser or be worthy of such a honor ?. Suffice that this speaks to the hubris , disrespect and moral confusion that the hierarchy have shown toward the laity and the reputation of the church . This will be used by our enemies to show our moral obtuseness in addition to the other scandals and the church’s response to them . This speaks to this bishops lack of judgement and awareness of what is good and appropriate , the people of this diocese deserve better , actions like this make these times worse.
Was Cdl. Mahony part of the cabal noted below?
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/former-us-nuncio-pope-francis-knew-of-mccarricks-misdeeds-repealed-sanction
The same story is also reported by:
Catholic News Agency,
National Catholic Register, and
Church Militant.
The bishops are turning on each other.
More bishops turning against brother bishops, including the Bishop of Rome.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/texas-bishop-urges-thorough-investigation-of-allegations-against-pope-franc