Mahony fires back at Gomez, letter suggests Mahony not truly sorry despite previous comments

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
2/4/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Mahony owns the scandal, not Gomez.

Cardinal Mahony has fired back at Archbishop Gomez, in a letter designed to play up his role in taking initial steps to protect children in the wake of several sexual abuse scandals in the 80's. However, critics say the letter only worsens the public relations situation for the archdiocese.

Is Mahony truly sorry? It no longer appears so as he attempts to shifts focus to Gomez.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The letter from Mahony to Gomez is said to be sharply worded and represents Mahony's attempt to defend his legacy from tatters. Mahony's legacy is already in grave jeopardy after court files came to light revealing that he both knew about cases of pedophile priests serving in the archdiocese and that he moved them to cover up the situation.

Mahony also accused Gomez of publicly shaming him.

Mahony, 76, had previously issued a public apology for his role in covering up cases of abuse. Mahony was apparently concerned that reporting the crime to police would only increase the harm done to all parties, especially the archdiocese which would be embarrassed by the charges. To avoid embarrassment, Mahony simply sent accused priests to counseling, then reassigned them. In some cases, these priests reoffended when they arrived at their new assignments.

Expired statutes of limitations combined with closed-lipped church officials ensured that prosecutors could not arrest some of the accused after their cases came to light.

The scandal represents one of the greatest failings of the Catholic Church in its modern history and has drawn attention from all quarters, even the Vatican, which has condemned these cases and their handling.

Yet Mahony has remained steadfast, claiming he initiated procedures that laid the groundwork for better protections for children today in response to the crisis. Mahony initiated a special commission to develop new means of protecting the youth.

Mahony wrote in his letter, "Unfortunately, I cannot return now to the 1980s and reverse actions and decisions made then. But when I retired as the active archbishop, I handed over to you an archdiocese that was second to none in protecting children and youth."

The Los Angeles Times has already run several pieces commenting on the letter, offering an opinion in one piece that the letter "was remarkable because it revealed infighting between two highly placed church leaders when members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy rarely break ranks publicly," quoting Canon lawyer Rev. Thomas Doyle.

Despite Mahony's protestations, Steve Lopez in writing for the L.A. Times responded to Mahony's claim that he was never trained to handle such incidents, and that "nothing" in his "background" had prepared him to deal with pedophile priests.

"Nothing?" Lopez wrote. "Not common sense? Not the master's degree in social work? Not the earlier experience of the molestation scandal in Stockton, where Mahony was assigned before his move to Los Angeles? Do you need special training to know that the rape, abuse and psychological torture of children has to be stopped immediately? Or that your first responsibility when you hear about a child being molested isn't to protect the church's reputation, but to get help for the victims and make sure the priest is brought to justice? Mahony would have you believe that the mid-1980s were the Dark Ages. They were not," Lopez concluded.

He's right. Mahony made a terrible mistake by even appearing as though he is defending himself. Mahony's best play would have been to make nothing less than a full disclosure followed by a public apology tour. People can forgive a mistake, even an egregious one - but for that to happen, the penitent must first be truly sorry, and, in such an egregiously matter of such public concern, make that unequivocally clear.

Mahony may not appear to be truly sorry to many observers.

In fact, he even fired back at Archbishop Gomez for taking two years himself to review the files. It may be a valid point, but nothing that will save Mahony; he owns the scandal, not Gomez.

Only Mahony can save himself, and it requires a full 180 degree reversal and an unprecedented level of honesty and cooperation, and humility. Ultimately, this case is not about Mahony, or Gomez, or even the archdiocese itself.

At the end of the day, this is about children who were forced to remain silent because they were horribly abused and left to suffer by some mebers of the clergy who actively and knowingly conspired to keep them so.

The greatest focus then, should be on helping survivors of this horrendous abuse, and taking real steps to ensure children never, never, never face such abuse in the church again.

� 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Gomez, Mahony, Curry, sex abuse, children, molestation, church, cover up, documents, settlement

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1 - 8 of 8 Comments

Steve
3 months ago
Cardinal Mahony in his letter to Archbishop Gomez says that in the 1990s, having learned from the mistakes of the 1980s, “we moved towards a ‘zero tolerance’ policy for clergy who had allegations against them which had proven true.”

How, consistent with Catholic moral theology, could there ever have been a “some tolerance” policy even for not-yet-proven but reasonably suspected serious crimes?

The relevant Catholic moral teaching is stated by moral theologian Germain Grisez, citing St. Thomas Aquinas: “Someone who thinks a crime is being planned or committed, or has been committed, should inform the police or other relevant authorities of his or her reasons for believing this (see S.t., 2-2. q. 68, a. 1). In providing this information, the person should take pains to be accurate, neither exaggerating nor understating anything, and distinguishing between conjecture and direct knowledge, and should answer any questions fully and precisely (see a. 3). Indeed, facts supporting even a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity should be reported if this might prevent serious harm to the common good or some person.” There are four exceptions to the moral duty to report crimes: when providing information would be pointless (as when it is clear that law enforcement will not act on the information), when the law leaves discretion to prosecute up to the victim, when family members or friends are admonished and being given a short time to turn themselves in, and when there is a special duty of confidentiality. (Grisez, The Way of the Lord Jesus, Vol. 2, Ch. 11E; twotlj.org.)
KarlVDH
3 months ago
Mr. Mahoney, the Word of God is very clear: "Woe unto the shepherd who scatters my flock." you have proven yourself a false shepherd and an unworthy hireling sir... both by your actions and cover-up, and now by your effort to protect your title instead of devoting the rest f your life to undoing the damage you did.
Shame on you.
K C Thomas
3 months ago
Blamegame will not help. When there is fault or misgovernance, it should be admitted and future should be taken care of. Our Church authorities do not care to listen to credible parishioners. Another thing I notice in our clergy is that they give the impression that they think all lay persons are illiterate in Church / spiritual matters . They also give the impression that humility is not for them. The American sex abuse story is very sad. But as George Weigel wrote in his book " Courage to be catholic" the main reason for the failure is the misgovernance of the Bishops who did not act as shepherds but wished to be ony a nominal Head of the department .
Rob
3 months ago
What is sad is that this is simply a matter of idolatry. The people involved were so concerned with the institution that they forgot to be church. They forgot to be Christ to others. This does nothing but damage the church's credibility at a time when the church needs to be a bright shining light.

I really don't know what it's going to take to fully cleanse the church, but it's sad to see this happen in this magnitude every few years. We just aren't allowed to heal.
Mathew Thankachen O.Praem
3 months ago
A crow is a crow and a crane is a crane. By painting white, a crow cannot become a crane. Reality and Truth remains absolute. In judging morality, The intention is important. In a particular period of history, the trend was to " protect the Church from scandal" despite the scandal remains a bare truth. With a view to emancipate the victims, to correct the clergy in future, forced by the human right organizations, the Church today changed her attitude to " make public" and bring to light, " unprotected" by the hierarchy those clergy found guilty is the present standard of moral criterion on pedophilia.May be bishop Gomez doesn't want a remark that he too " covered up" the " secrecy of his predecessor" and such " files". one thing all must understand is our priests are the product of the modern family and society where homosexuality, pedophilia etc prevails and no " vocation screening" can fully clear them. Nevertheless, justifying the social environment, the whole church including the civic organization is responsible to " protect the Church" and help the clerics to lead a " moral life". I often found in democracy, the succeeding government always blaming the preceding government for the present state of affairs and I hope, such " pharisaic mentality" may not enter in the life of the hierarchy with whatsoever, motive. At the same time. a bishop should have a " firm and gentle " hand to " correct the clergy on time" with no uncertain stand. Recognizing, identifying, feeling sorry for one's mistake, even before the public, if needed, is better than " justifying and living in the same error" " closing the eyes towards truth" like " cats drink milk".
Mathew Thankachen O.Praem.
David W. Cooney
3 months ago
As a Catholic, I have to respond to a comment quoted in the article.

"your first responsibility when you hear about a child being molested isn't to protect the church's reputation, but to get help for the victims and make sure the priest is brought to justice"

Actually, helping the victims and making sure the guilty priest is brought to justice is the best way to protect the Church's reputation. Sadly, some prelates have forgotten that the truth is what sets us free. All Catholics have the responsibility to protect the Church from scandal. The way to do this is to avoid scandalous behavior. Burying someone else's scandalous behavior is itself scandalous behavior and, as has been all too well proven with these cases, simply creates a greater scandal.

I will continue to pray for Mahoney and the others involved, because they need it.
Joe
3 months ago
To be fair, Cardinal Mahony's reply should also be published. I have seen it and see no reason for this article. To me Caltholic Online is picking sides. Please retrack this write-up.
This is a black mark for the whole Church, not for just one cardinal. Catholic Online is throwing the 1st stone.
G.G. a disappointed Catholic!
3 months ago
Steve Lopez you are right that you have written, "Mahoney owns the scandal, not Gomez".
The Los Angeles Times correctly pointing out that in one of several pieces that that letter was remarkable because it revealed infighting between two highly placed church leaders when members of the Roman Catholic heirarchy rarely breaks rank publically," in quoting Canon lawyer Rev. Thomas Doyle....How sad for this has only revealed that Cardinal Mahoney's
cover up are on going lies about those pedophile priests...So this has drawn attention from all quarters even the Vatican! which has condemned these cases and their handling! Why didn't the Vatican intercede before? It was the Vatican's responsibility to discipline the church leaders and get rid of the pedophile priests by order of the POPE! Excommunicate them! The Vatican should have condemned all the previous cases and handling before this horrendous
abuse cover up!...And, Mahoney should be asked to resign! He is the "Leader of the pack" and should NOT be receiving any financial compensation from the "flock " that he lied to.....
All Catholic church leaders should be held responsible for any sexual abuse from the priests in their church...Just as we parents are held responsible for our children...If our children break any laws, we are held responsible according to our laws! So must the church leaders be held responsible and so must the Vatican be held responsible for the church leaders cover ups and lies...We are taught from childhood by our parents and our Catholic church NOT TO LIE! And, the Catholic Church is wondering why so many have left the Catholic Church? I am tempted to leave! I don't have the respect for my Catholic upbringing that I had when I was an innocent believing child...To make it right it has to start from the top..THE VATICAN!!

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