CWN Calls for Cardinal Mahoney's Resignation

To restore credibility, Cardinal Mahony should resign

by Phil Lawler, special to CWNews.com

Jul. 17, 2007 (www.CWNews.com) – Five years ago Cardinal Roger Mahony was reportedly encouraging Vatican officials to ask for the resignation of Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law. Using the same logical arguments that the American prelate presented in 2002, the Vatican should now ask Cardinal Mahony himself to step down.

The sensational cost of the sex-abuse scandal for the Los Angeles archdiocese far exceeds the devastation in Boston. The $660-million legal settlement announced on July 16 is nearly five times the total of the financial damages in Boston. Combining that settlement with previous agreements, lawyers' fees, and other associated costs, the overall price to be paid by the faithful Catholics of Los Angeles will approach $1 billion.

Yet the monetary costs, grave as they are, still do not reflect the most serious damage to the Catholic faith. Only rarely do I agree with an editorial in the Boston Globe, particularly when the topic is the Catholic faith. But today's Globe editorial is on target:

In the eyes of victims, the scandal will never be fully resolved as long as bishops who put the interests of their fellow priests over the protection of children remain in positions of leadership.

One could– and should– go further. This ugly chapter in Catholic history cannot be closed until the Church rebukes those prelates who put their own interests ahead of the needs of the Catholic faithful and the Catholic faith. Cardinal Mahony is the most conspicuous example. Visit www.cwnnews.com for the full story.

  Frankly, I'm all for his resignation or whatever else it takes. I'd like to see a new archbishop in Los Angeles who holds, defends and teaches the full deposit of the Catholic faith. Isn't that his job, after all?

For a new article on why this is not just a Catholic problem, click here.