LOS ANGELES (CA)
Zenit
[the Los Angeles files]
Junno De Jesús Arocho Esteves
LOS ANGELES, February 1, 2013 (Zenit.org).
Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles released a statement regarding the release of Clergy files of those involved in the sexual abuse of children. While the files document abuse cases that occurred several decades ago, Archbishop Gomez stated that it does not make them less serious.
“I find these files to be brutal and painful reading. The behavior described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children. The priests involved had the duty to be their spiritual fathers and they failed,” the Archbishop stated.
Stressing the need to acknowledge the “terrible failure”, Archbishop Gomez stated the need to pray for the victims of abuse and to support them in their healing while “restoring the trust that was broken.”
Cardinal Roger Mahoney, Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles, and Bishop Thomas Curry, bishop of Santa Barbara have both expressed their regret and sorry for their handling of the cases. However, Archbishop Gomez stated that he informed Archbishop Mahoney that he will be relieved of administrative and public duties effective immediately. Bishop Curry, who served as Vicar for Clergy during the period of abuses, has requested to be relieved of his duties as Regional Bishop of Santa Clara.
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