Archbishop Subpoenaed At Last Mass

Archbishop William Levada, who will soon be the highest ranking American at the Vatican, was welcomed to his final Sunday Mass here by thousands of admiring parishioners, a few critics and a subpoena compelling him to testify about sex abuse in the Roman Catholic Church.

Levada was handed the subpoena minutes before he began the procession to the altar at St. Mary's Cathedral.

It requires him to give a deposition Aug. 12 concerning sex abuse allegations against priests in the Portland, Ore., archdiocese, where he was archbishop from 1986 to 1995.

The 69-year-old archbishop spoke to a standing-room-only crowd of 3,000 in the cathedral Sunday, telling them he would miss San Francisco but he looked forward to working as "God's shepherd" in Rome.

"What I have experienced in the city of Saint Francis ... has been a great grace for me," he said.

Levada is expected to leave later this month for his appointment as head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the post held by former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before he became Pope Benedict XVI.

In that role, Levada will help shape Catholic doctrine and play a major role in the church's response to claims of sexual abuse by priests.

As Levada spoke Sunday, about 50 protesters held a silent vigil outside with signs reading: "In memory of children abused by clergy."

Since the abuse scandal broke in 2002, hundreds of clergy have been removed from parish work in the United States and church leaders have set new guidelines for reporting and dealing with future allegations and the priests accused. The U.S. church says it has paid at least $840 million in settlements with victims since 1950.

Levada has never been accused of sex abuse, but victims' groups, such as the national Survivors Network of Those Abused By Priests, have claimed that he failed to rigorously pursue allegations of clergy molestation of children.

"They've kept everything secret. We're here saying it's not about protecting priests and their rights, but it's about protecting children," said SNAP board member Terrie Light, 54.

But Catholic parishioner Jake McGoldrick, a San Francisco supervisor, said Levada could be the voice that the church needs in Rome right now to heal the rift created by the scandal.

"Levada has a deep desire to advance the Church into the next millennium," McGoldrick said. "My feeling is that the pope is bringing him to Rome to say, 'What are we going to do to clean up this mess?"'

Church officials said the protesters were overlooking the San Francisco Archdiocese's efforts to reach out to abuse victims, including paying about $40 million to settle claims.

"We know these people have suffered deeply," said archdiocese spokesman Maurice Healy. "The church is doing a great deal to help."

Levada's appointment in Rome will last at least five years. His successor in San Francisco will likely be chosen within the next six months.