Should abuse-tainted cardinal be allowed to vote for new pope?
Esther Millar, 54, is overcome with emotion as she talks about her abuser, while holding pictures of Vicki and Mary, who she says were victims of sexual abuse by a priest in the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, during a news conference urging those with information about alleged abuse to come forward on February 1, 2013, at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California. /Getty Images
Thousands of pages of evidence released last month in California showed the former Los Angeles archbishop and current Cardinal Roger Mahony participated in a bold cover up of priest sex abuse in his diocese.
Cardinal Roger Mahony in 2012
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Getty Images
The evidence, which is part of a lawsuit against the archdiocese, showed how Mahony and an aide maneuvered behind the scenes to shield molester priests, provide damage control for the church, and keep parishioners in the dark. Shortly after the revelation, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez relieved Mahony of his remaining public duties.
It appears Mahony will avoid any criminal charges in the matter, and he is also expected to be among the approximately 117 men called to participate in the College of Cardinals to help pick the next pope following Pope Benedict XVI's announcement that he will be stepping down as Pontiff on Feb. 28. Mahony has said he looks forward to traveling to Rome to participate in the conclave of cardinals.
An influential Italian Catholic magazine asked its readers if Mahony should participate in the conclave. Famiglia Cristiana, one of Italy's most-read magazines, featured the question on its website Monday asking readers: "Your opinion: Mahony in the conclave: Yes or No?"
For Catholics United, an American nonprofit organization, the answer is a resounding "no."
"It's the right thing to do," said Andrea Leon-Grossman, a Los Angeles member of Catholics United, in a statement on its website. "In the interests of the children who were raped in his diocese, he needs to keep out of the public eye. He has already been stripped of his ministry. If he's truly sorry for what has happened, he would show some humility and opt to stay home."
Mahony, who was archbishop of Los Angeles from 1985 until 2011, has apologized for "mistakes" he made as archbishop, saying he had not been equipped to deal with the problem of sexual misconduct involving children.
Although Archbishop Gomez stripped Mahony of his duties, the L.A. church leader has endorsed Mahony's participation in the conclave, asking parishioners to pray for him, reports KCBS in Los Angeles.
Gomez said in a statement: "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."
EDITOR'S NOTE:In what was likely a response to the outcry against Cardinal Mahony, Ambrogio Piazzoni, vice prefect of the Vatican Library, told reporters on February 20 that all eligible members of the College of Cardinals are required to attend and participate in the papal conclave. However, as Edward Peters, Edward Peters, a canon law expert at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, pointed out in a recent blog post, Mahony could always resign first.
I guess the Cardinals have forgotten about the provision of "defrocking" members of the clergy. Cardinal Mahoney should have been defrocked months ago, and therefore, would not have been allowed to attend the conclave. There is no courage among the members of the hierarchy. Some say it is an old boys club. In my opinion it is a group of individuals who lack courage to do the right thing. If Jesus Christ showed up at the Conclave, I believe it would resemble the event when He throw the money changers out of the temple. The Catholic hierarchy needs a major overhaul. Some, like Cardinal Mahoney need to serve some prison time. They had no desire to protect innocent children. Instead, they were interested in the "glory" and "glam" of their position. For some of them Prada shoes, and flying first class were of most importance.
For the sake of "good order" in the Church of Rome, either this present Pope or the College of Cardinals should discipline their fellow bishop Mahony and not allow him to be involved in the papal election--they should send him back to face the legal system in the USA.
They say that the love of money is the root of all evil, and we can now add to that the religion is the seed of evil even deeper than the love of money.
Well, a few hail mary's and our fathers should do the trick what a bunch of morons.
That's what happens when you allow a liberal to be a Cardinal. The next pope will excommunicate all liberals in a direct way, not the indirect way that already excommunicated them for supporting baby killing and socialism.
As a devout lay Catholic I realize that, even though the current Archbishop of Los Angeles has relieved Cardinal Mahony of all public duties and stripped him of his ministry, in the end it will be within the purview of Pope Benedict and the College of Cardinals to decide whether or not he is allowed to vote in the upcoming conclave. However if for some reason they were to ask me I would say No. Absolutely not.
I say this not because he would for some reason vote for the wrong man but because of the terrible damage he has done to those who were abused, their families and to the Body of Christ.
When he faces Jesus Christ on Judgment Day he had better hope Christ is a merciful judge.
I agree with your premise and your outlining of his "sins" but have to ask, does he truly believe in God and/or Jesus Christ, or was protecting his business entity and its ongoing revenue stream more important to him?
If Pope Benedict was much of a pope and if dealing with the sex abuse really means anything to him, he would swiftly act to demote Roger Mahony from cardinal status to prevent him from participating in the conclave.
This is the most disgusting thing ever. Who the hell does he think he is?? The church should strip them of everything as they stripped everything from the children they abused. As for the pope, he should have never been pope! Disgusting, absolutely disgusting and maddening!
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Why is this guy still there at all?
Well, a few hail mary's and our fathers should do the trick what a bunch of morons.
Opp's .... I mean
"No religion, no holy war. " Mark Twain
I tend to say No, but whose decision is this? The news media? General public? Catholic church?
However if for some reason they were to ask me I would say No. Absolutely not.
I say this not because he would for some reason vote for the wrong man but because of the terrible damage he has done to those who were abused, their families and to the Body of Christ.
When he faces Jesus Christ on Judgment Day he had better hope Christ is a merciful judge.