LOS ANGELES (CA)
NBC Southern California
[with video]
Former Cardinal Mahoney Stripped of Public Duties for Role in Shielding Alleged Priest Child Molesters
By Samantha Tata
Thursday, Jan 31, 2013
Hours after personnel files detailing years of alleged sexual abuse by Los Angeles priests were released Thursday, the Archbishop of Los Angeles apologized for priests’ past abuse as he took action against two church leaders who were at the helm while the suspected abuse took place.
Retired Cardinal Roger Mahony will “no longer have any administrative or public duties,” and his former Vicar of Clergy Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry will resign as the Regional Bishop of Santa Barbara, Archbishop José H. Gomez said in a statement released Thursday evening.
Mahoney and other top Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles officials maneuvered behind the scenes to shield molester priests, provide damage control for the church and keep parishioners in the dark, according to the church personnel files.
As Vicar for Clergy, Curry was responsible for “promoting the spiritual and physical well-being” for all priests and deacons in the archdiocese, including those who were inactive, sick or on leave, according to the archdiocese’s website. He also doled out assignments for priests and deacons.
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