Disgraced Los Angeles Cardinal Mahony asked to stay away from Vatican conclave

[DonViejo]

By Agence France-Presse
Wednesday, February 20, 2013 3:08 EST

Activists fighting for truth and justice for victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests hold out little hope for progress under the next pope as controversy brews over a US cardinal who covered up for predator clerics.

A Catholic association has asked retired Los Angeles archbishop Roger Mahony to stay away from next month’s conclave after he was stripped of all public duties for mishandling claims against dozens of priests.

Campaigners say the disgraced cardinal’s behaviour is precisely what Pope Benedict XVI has failed to crack down on and point to other “cardinal electors” linked to abuse scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church in recent years.

“He should have the good sense to stay well away from Rome,” said Roberto Mirabile, director of the Italian anti-abuse group La Caramella Buona, whose lobbying helped convict a paedophile parish priest near Rome last year.

Supporters reject the demonisation of Benedict on this issue and say he has been the first pontiff to really confront the problem, meet with victims and punish abusers, as well as try to formulate Church-wide rules against abuse.

more
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/20/disgraced-los-angeles-cardinal-mahony-asked-to-stay-away-from-vatican-conclave/

[trotsky]

1. Ratzinger is "the first pontiff to... try to formulate Church-wide rules against abuse"

There is only one church-wide rule that needs to be formulated:

When an accusation of abuse happens, the civil authorities in that locale should be notified and allowed to do their jobs with the full cooperation of the church.

Simple. But it still hasn't happened. The most important step the church can take is to stop acting like they're above the secular law.

[moobu2]

2. Whatever the Catholic church has done

in a positive way about the sexual abuse of minors by priests...it wasn't done voluntarily. They fought reforms and victims tooth and nail and I bet you anything that the only reason Cardinal Mahony isn't sitting in some plush apartment in the Vatican right now is that Mahony didn't protect the church well enough from the sex abuse victims. Cardinal Law comes to mind.

[cbayer]

3. I think it would be a spectacular and meaningful move for the Vatican to ask him to stay away

at this time. If they disinvited a few of the worst offenders, it would send a message around the world.

But I just don't see it happening.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

4. Mahoney could not participate in the conclave, since he is over 80

[trotsky]

5. Incorrect. He's just shy of 77. (Born 27 February 1936)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Mahony

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

6. My mistake. Sorry.

[cbayer]

7. Actually he is 76.

[Marrah_G]

8. I'm glad they have asked him to stay away

Somehow I doubt he will.

As for benedict being the first pontiff to confront abuse.... I say that is a load of bullshit. He did nothing until it all became public and even then he was part of the cover up as a Cardinal. In my eyes he is a criminal who should be in jail.