Cardinal Mahony Has Been Relieved of Duties in Los Angeles

Since 2011 Archbishop Gomez has been sifting through documents related to the sexual abuse cover up in the L.A. Archdiocese and these documents have brought to light Cardinal Mahony’s efforts to hide the abuse.  Archbishop Gomez has relieved Cardinal Mahony of his duties. He was already retired so I’m not sure what other punishments can be administered beyond his being denied the authority to do confirmations since Cardinal Mahony is retired.  The L.A. Times has reactions from parishioners here.  Steve Lopez is correct. Mahony’s actions to hide the perpetrators who committed sexual abuse is deplorable and evil.  Here is a bit more of the scoop on this from Father Z: 

The Archbishop of Los Angeles, Most Rev. José H. Gomez, has said “Effective immediately, I have informed Cardinal Mahony that he will no longer have any administrative or public duties.”  See the pdf of the letter HERE.

What this means is that His Eminence cannot be any sort of representative for the sitting Archbishop or for the Archdiocese.  Canon law itself gives Cardinal some faculties.  According to can. 357§2, “in those matters which pertain to their own person, cardinals living outside of Rome and outside their own diocese are exempt from the power of governance of the bishop of the diocese in which they are residing.”  So, there is little that Archbp. Gomez can do, except cancel every public event in which Card. Mahony was going to play a principle part, such as confirmations.

 

Mahony made sure that he kept the truth hidden for years so it is good and just that Archbishop Gomez has gotten to the bottom of things and is taking the appropriate action.