LOS ANGELES (CA)
KABC
[with video]
Leslie Miller
LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Confidential personnel records are now offering a glimpse into the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal. They detail a pattern of cover-ups within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. For years, victims have been clamoring to get their hands on these documents.
The documents are part of a lawsuit seeking damages in a case involving a Mexican priest accused of abusing at least 26 children after he was transferred to Los Angeles in the 1980s. The documents include personnel files of 13 other clerics as well as notes written by Cardinal Roger Mahony and other church leaders.
The newly released documents reveal that retired Cardinal Roger Mahony and other top officials with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles tried to conceal the molestation of children from law enforcement decades ago.
The files show church leaders moved abusive priests out of state, handled damage control and consulted with accused priests behind the scenes.
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