Demands Increase That California Cardinal Roger Mahony Skip Conclave

By Sylvia Cochran
Yahoo! News
February 20, 2013

http://news.yahoo.com/demands-increase-california-cardinal-roger-mahony-skip-conclave-194900503.html

With the surprising resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, California Cardinal Roger Mahony has been preparing to attend the Vatican conclave to elect a new pope. In light of documents made public that detail Mahony's role in the Los Angeles archdiocese sexual abuse scandal, the Religion News Service now reports that there are renewed demands that Mahony should stay home.

What is the status of Mahony's role in the church?

Although still an American cardinal, the Archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose Gomez, has relieved Mahony of all "administrative or public duties" in the wake of the court-ordered release of previously confidential church records. Nevertheless, the cardinal is still entitled to travel to Rome and vote in the conclave.

Does Archbishop Gomez support Mahony's travel to the Vatican conclave?

While Gomez does not discuss his personal preference, the Los Angeles Times reports that he reminds the faithful that Mahony is still considered to be in "good standing" -- recent revelations in the sexual abuse scandal notwithstanding. "Cardinal Mahony's accomplishments and experience in the areas of immigration, social justice, sacred liturgy, and the role of the laity in the church will serve the College of Cardinals well as it works to discern the will of the Holy Spirit in these deliberations that will lead to the election of our new pope," Gomez wrote in a press release.

What is at the root of the Cardinal Roger Mahony scandal?

Sexual abuse by members of the clergy is at the root of Mahony's tarnished legacy. As noted by the BBC, the cardinal apologized to 508 victims in 2007. The church paid out $660 million in damages. The abuse cases went as far back as the 1940s and released records show that priests accused of sexually abusing children were not reported to the authorities but rather offered therapy or moved to other parishes and given new duties.

How does the cardinal respond to his critics?

In a letter posted on his blog, the cardinal responds to Gomez by claiming that with respect to sexual abuse at the hands of the clergy, "Nothing in my own background or education equipped me to deal with this grave problem." Mahony further notes that his efforts to reach out to other bishops for help netted him the advice that he was to "remove priests from active ministry if there was reasonable suspicion that abuse had occurred, and then refer them to one of the several residential treatment centers across the country for evaluation and recommendation." He further asserts that he was never told that this method of dealing with perpetrators was "not effective."

What happens next?

Since Mahony is still a bishop in good standing, he is entitled to attend the conclave and vote for the next pope. Cardinal Velasio De Paolis is quoted in Religion News as stating that there is no process in place to stop Mahony unless "someone with great authority" steps in and counsels the cardinal to remain at home. In the meantime, advocacy groups for sex abuse survivors are calling on Mahony to stay home.