LA Cardinal Mahony shielded sexual predators within the Catholic Church

""This is all intolerable and unacceptable to me,' Mahony reportedly wrote in 1991 on a file." Does that sound like a person hell bent on shielding sexual predators? The Church back in those days did what professionals advised them to do (and advised other institutions in the exact same way). They were advised not that this was a permanent sickness but one that could be cured through therapy. In hindsight they made some questionable decisions, but so did every other institution which took professional advice on this matter in those days. The difference is that those institutions continue to have a huge contemporary issue with child sex abuse. The (Catholic) Church does not. There are many people reading this post who have become aware of child abuse in their immediate families or place of work over the years. Did you report the offender - or suspect - to the police straight away? Was that last year or 30 years ago?

Seamus: You cannot rationalize this, or attempt to justify it in any manner. It was wrong plain and simple.

In the 1990's it was not believed that priests who molested children could be 'saved.' Psychologists then believed they ought to be reported to the authorities, which Mahony knew, so he shipped them out of state. The letters show the first concern was to protect the church, not the children

@ Seamus Mor, Can't you read?

The two thousand year old Catholic Church changes direction about as deftly as a super tanker. Originally, abuse was treated as a sin, then as an illness, and now, finally, as a crime. It is unjust to judge actions taken (or not taken) in the past by contemporary standards. Cardinal Mahoney has served the Lord, the Church, and his flock with piety, integrity, and Christian love every day of his priesthood.

Meanwhile the Pope gives a papal knighthood to Rupert Murdoch, who owns Fox News, while Fox News is screeching that Obama is a tyrant. Accusing Obama of being a tyrant is a way to legitimize and advocate his assassination. They know very well that Lincoln's assassin mouthed the slogan of Virginia as he shot the President: "Sic semper tyranis" ("This is what we do to tyrants.").

Meanwhile the Pope gives a papal knighthood to Rupert Murdoch, who owns Fox News, while Fox News is screeching that Obama is a tyrant. Accusing Obama of being a tyrant is a way to legitimize and advocate his assassination. They know very well that Lincoln's assassin mouthed the slogan of Virginia as he shot the President: "Sic semper tyranis" ("This is what we do to tyrants.").

This is typical of these low-lives. In their minds it has always been protect the church at all costs then, protect the Cardinals, Bishops and last, those filthy, raping priests. The hell with the victims, it was probably their fault anyway. They would blame the victims for making the priests weak!! They would transfer the priests to other parishes where they could continue their horrible acts on innocent children whilst the Bishops would look the other way or the Cardinals like it didn't even happen. They are just as guilty in my opinion for enabling these pedophiles to continue to rape those children and I think they should go to prison along with the actual rapists. Cardinal Law, of Boston, rather than go in for questioning, escaped the country and flew to the Vatican where he resides in sanctuary unto this day under the protection of the Pope. This is how they protect their own from the law regarding pedophiles. They are more important than the victims. Cardinal Law should be brought back in chains for what he pulled. He is obviously guilty.

In the 90s, this was SOP. It was presumed that those who strayed could be counseled and forgiven. Psychology has made great advancements and rightfully it is now seen as an addiction and obsession. Unfortunately, this has now evolved into an addiction and obsession on the part of the left to destroy the Catholic Church and make the Church pay for its own dismantling.

JohnGalt wants the Feds to enforce RICO laws??? Isn't that an oxymoron? Although I agree with the sentiments, I wasn't sure of the political consistency.

If state and local prosecutors start arresting the criminals and their accessories, if the Feds begin to enforce RICO laws, the epidemic would cease. As well, would institutionalized rape.

I think it shows a shocking lack of understanding the job of representing GOD