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  L.A. Archdiocese Seeks Restraining Order
Court Filing Says a Man Threatened Cardinal Mahony and Others at the Downtown Cathedral This Week.

By Andrew Blankstein
Los Angeles Times
December 6, 2007

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mahony7dec07,0,1974162.story?coll=la-home-center

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has sought a temporary restraining order against a man it says made threats against Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and other employees of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

The request for the order, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, seeks to prohibit 61-year-old Edward Filek from stalking, phoning or writing Mahony and two monsignors assigned to his staff. He also would have to stay 100 yards away from where they live, work or visit.

The filing is unrelated to a July attack on the cardinal in which he said he was punched and kicked while mailing letters near the cathedral. Mahony told the Los Angeles Police Department he did not wish to pursue that matter with police.

In the more recent case, according to the request for the restraining order, the incident began Sunday when Filek was escorted from the cathedral after allegedly refusing to leave. The LAPD arrested him that day, the court filing says. He allegedly broke into the cathedral the next day when it was closed, setting off the alarm. He was again arrested, the report says. On Wednesday, the document says, Filek again returned to the cathedral and, when escorted out, said, "You'll be sorry."

"We understand that Mr. Filek made general threats against Cardinal Mahony and other persons at the cathedral," Mahony's attorneys said in the filing.

Filek, who the report lives says at the Los Angeles Mission, could not be reached for comment. Court officials said he had no connection to the clergy sexual abuse litigation.

A hearing was set for Dec. 20 in Superior Court, where a judge is to decide whether to grant the restraining order.

Contact: andrew.blankstein@latimes.com

 
 

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