Retired LA Cardinal Mahony to testify in clergy sex abuse case

For the second time in his career, Los Angeles' Cardinal Roger Mahony will testify in open court in a child sex abuse and cover up case in Stockton, a diocese he headed for years before coming to LA. 

The case centers around the diocese’s handling of Fr. Michael Kelly, a priest who just last week was found civilly liable by a 12-person jury of abusing a child in the mid-1980s. Despite the fact that allegations of abuse at the hands of Fr. Kelly have been known to the diocese for years, Fr. Kelly was only removed from ministry as of Friday (he had been removed from ministry once before in 2007, but the diocese reinstated him in 2008.

In 1998, Mahony testified in a civil trial involving notorious predator priest Oliver O'Grady who spent time in prison and was extradited. At the end of those proceeding, one juror pointedly told reporters that Mahony was “utterly unbelievable” and another juror went so far as to say “I didn't believe Mahony . . . I think it is pretty obvious that none of us did.”

(http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=7874

We are confident that the jury in this case will see that Mahony’s priorities are to shield himself and his colleagues from accountability, just like the jury in 1998 did.

 

Read the story here: http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_2cc84273-73fd-5ac3-9452-f1d6fe4902da.html


Showing 2 comments

  • Jeannie Guzman
    commented 2012-04-15 10:43:45 -0500
    I predict that after the Monsignor Lynn trial in Philly the floodgates will literally open to similar trials around the country. After Bishop Finn in Cleveland, hopefully Cardinal Mahony will be the next member of the Hierarchy to be held accountable for coverups of Priest Pedophilia in his Archdiocese(s). God is in His heaven. Justice will finally prevail!
  • Barbara Dorris
    published this page in Official SNAP Media Statements 2012-04-13 11:00:16 -0500

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