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Comments (10)

1. CATHERINE MARY HENRY says:
   December 4, 2007 18:50

   Hello Gustavo,

   Mahony is using all his PR technics to fine tune his image, trying to identify with victims now, like it's really going to fly. Found this coming out of the Philly Inquirer last Monday a week.. This nun really has it. She helped get rid of SOLs in Delaware, added a "Window" of two years and not she's joining the fight in Pennsylvania.
   __________________________________________________

   http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/11811202.html

   COMMENTARY PIECE
   Published on Mon, Nov. 26, 2007
   Philadelphia Inquirer

   IN EFFECT, ARCHDIOCESE GIVES SEXUAL PREDATORS A PASS

   There should be no statute of limitations where the sexual abuse of children is concerned, period.

   The sexual abuse of children is a major epidemic going on in our country, a pandemic if one considers it in its worldwide proportions.

   So it is hard to believe, in light of the statement above, that we continue to have churchmen who actually oppose the removal of statutes of limitations regarding the sexual abuse of our children.

   It is unconscionable that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia apparently is still of the opinion that sexual predators and abusers should not be held accountable.

   "Window" legislation, as it relates to civil statutes, is the single most important factor in holding sexual predators and their enabling institutions or individuals accountable. ("Window" legislation is so called because it would allow previously time-barred cases - in this case, those concerning childhood sexual abuse - to be brought forward.) There should be a window of at least two years for abuse cases.

   How blithely Mary Achilles, victims' advocate for the archdiocese, speaks of the church's failure to comply with the criminal statutes. So much so was the hierarchy's imperious disregard of the law, that the statute of limitations now protects known sexual abusers of children from criminal prosecution forever.

   I cannot comprehend the hubris that would occasion the type of behavior that is so graphically delineated in the 2005 Philadelphia Grand Jury Report on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

   And still, the archdiocese questions the rightfulness of extending the statute of limitations.

   Why isn't the archdiocese distributing postcards for the members of the Catholic community to sign and send to their legislators in Harrisburg to support the complete removal of statutes of limitations going forward in regard to the sexual abuse of children, criminally and civilly?

   This is not a matter belonging to what our church calls the "deposit of faith," and, leaving aside the matter of mortal sin for the moment, the sexual abuse of children is a matter of criminal behavior.

   Can there be any question about the intrinsic evil of the sexual abuse of children or of the fact that such individuals are intrinsically disordered?

   Certainly not!

   Statements made by Donna Farrell, the archdiocesan spokeswoman, are patently untrue. The burden of proof in civil cases falls on the accusers, not on the accused, possibly complicit institutions or their leadership.

   Window legislation is not "anti" any particular group; it is pro-child. It forces records, if they exist and have not been destroyed, to be made available in a court of justice and hopefully into the public venue as well.

   Moreover, there should be no accommodation in law giving more protection to individuals who have been accused of the sexual abuse of children than to the victims themselves.

   We know that pedophiles, rapists, molesters and child abusers come from all walks of life and that the sexual abuse of children happens primarily in the home.

   I think now is the time to make those who violate and abuse our children accountable in all states no matter when the abuse took place. Remove statutes of limitations going forward and include window legislation for past crimes.

   It is unconscionable for religious denominations and their leadership to protect and enable sexual predators by refusing to support changes in the laws that would hold both the perpetrators and their enablers accountable.

   In all good conscience, I would strongly encourage the good Catholics of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to support criminal and civil laws that are as strong as possible in holding the sexual predators of our children and any individuals or institutions, who were complicit in their protection, accountable.
   __________________________________________________

   Sister Maureen Paul Turlish is a Delaware educator and victims' advocate who testified in support of the recently signed Delaware Child Victims Law. She was a featured speaker at the November 3, 2007 annual conference of the National Association to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Children in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is a board member of DECOA, the Delaware Association of the Children of Alcoholics.
   __________________________________________________
   E-mail Sister Maureen Paul Turlish at maturlishmdsnd@yahoo.com.

   
   

2. Georgina says:
   December 4, 2007 19:42

   If this (Alleged) beating really took place, why is it that Mahony did not fight back? Is he not a, Rough & Ready MAN OF ACTION, who flies a jet helicopter and puts on a tool belt up there at his cabin in the woods and does his own carpentry and repair work? And why was Mahony mailing letters himself when he has a full office staff to do those things for him? What was he REALLY doing out there on the streets? Why did he not report this (Alleged) beating to the police and press charges against his (Alleged) attacker, when only a few years earlier, he was willing to press charges, and push for jail time, against a Clergy Sexual Abuse Victim who had handcuffed himself to Mahonys Throne in the Cathedral one Sunday. This is all very beguiling; however, we only have Mahonys word that this (Alleged) beating (so called) by this (Alleged) perpetrator, actually took place. Because, face it, what has Mahonys word been worth in the past.

   
   

3. Debby Bodkin says:
   December 4, 2007 19:47

   No human being deserves to be physically, sexually or emotionally assaulted by another person or powerful institution. I am sorry for Cardinal Mahoney's physical assault and am glad he was able to recover from the physical injuries. Almost six years after the clergy sex abuse crisis erupted in 2002, one has to wonder if Mahoney learned anything from past errors in judgment: QUESTIONS:

   Why didn't Mahoney report the assault to police in the interests of protecting others that may be in danger in the future? Why didn't Mahoney report the assault to ensure the person who hurt him can get the proper help or mental healthcare? Does Mahoney understand that failures to report physical or sexual assault committed against another human being will ENABLE further crimes against unsuspecting and innocent persons in the future?

   Cardinal Mahoney: Shame on you for not learning from past history and mistakes. Your physical injuries have healed but will you take responsibility if the same person who hurt you, hurts or kills another unsuspecting person?

   Maybe the Los Angeles District Attorney should investigate Cardinal Mahoney's failures to report physical assault? Afterall, if Mahoney is not courageous enough to do the right thing by now, in the interests of protecting others, protecting children and employees under Mahoney's supervision may still be a serious issue that requires government intervention.

4. SarahTX2 says:
   December 4, 2007 23:15

   Thank you again. This Cardinal could not be any more creepy. He who leads the Los Angeles Archdiocese does not report assault to the police? Is this a code? Is there a suggestion here that Catholic authorities should also not report attacks to police? Are the Catholics of Los Angeles seriously allowing this?

5. Rev/ James F. Moran says:
   December 5, 2007 03:12

   How DARE Mahony even suggest that he feels or understands any pain of a victim? He was not pinned on a bed while a priest performed oral sex on him; he was not ignored as he reported the abuse; he did not lose his faculties when he spoke out that he was a priest AND a victim of clergy abuse; he was not forced to make a decision of conscience not to represent bishops like himself ( and Law, McCormack, George et at) who revictimized vicitms for YEARS in courts before coming to a settlement (to avoid having to tell the truth in court.) If Mahony feels anything, he will stop his high courtroom antics, release the names of all abusive priests, and act like a HUMAN BEING.

6. Christopher H. says:
   December 5, 2007 11:04

   Georgina,

   it wasn't an alleged beating, it was an alleged hurling of words followed by an alleged "shoving" to the ground. (open hand vs. closed fist is an important factor when filing charges.. police dont really care unless a fist is formed)

   This alleged shoving took an alleged month to allegedly recover from and no one allegedly said anything?

   Perhaps he was confronted and tripped over his own lies trying to escape.

   me thinks Mahony just wants his own bullet proof glass pope mobile so he can mail his letters and run his errands without fear of confrontation.

7. Victoria says:
   December 5, 2007 11:17

   Dear Gustavo, I am really happy you showed a picture of the Cathedra, which is now called (for what reason I do not know), THE PRESIDENTS CHAIR.
   I call Mahonys Cathedra, OLD SPARKY, because it looks like one of those old time electric chairs from down south. And no, the Cathedra does not plug in.

8. Benedict XVI says:
   December 5, 2007 18:04

   Rog Hollywood Teflon ("Tef") Mahal Mahony remains a crook, as well as carrying one.

   Do not donate even a single penny to the LA Archdiocese until this CRIMINAL Cardinal (Mahony and his deep pockets twin brother actively campaigned and bought the seat from JP II) as well as multi decade pedophile enabler, is canonically sensored, driven from office, and placed under house arrest for like Marciel of the Legionnaries, in a remote, dark, cold, hard labor and bacd food montestary and his Mahal eternity project (OLA) destroyed, figuratively & literally, like the Temple in Jersualemn was by the Romans in 70 AD.

   If "Tef" refuses such a light sentence in this life, he must be irrevocably EXCOMMUNICATED.

   For daily vetter global converage of the ongoing curial crime spree, rape, oral copluation, sodomy, physical maiming, mental torture, kidnapping, and multiple deliquencies of HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of children, then, now, and ongoing, globally, by the Roman Catholic Church, costing the laity multi tens of billions of dollars, with no accountability or correction, I, your current pontiff recommend:

   www.bishopaccountability.org/abusetracker

   Happy Advent & Merry Christmas,

   Benedict XVI th
   Pope & Unindicted Co-Conspirator At CDF, When I Was Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prelate

9. Cholo says:
   December 5, 2007 18:13

   Who care if Balony got a pretend whipping? Lets move on, it time to heal. All is forgiven. Yup, it's time to moveon.com!

10. Sally McGovern says:
    December 6, 2007 01:12

    Poor Cardinal Mahony,he must have been so scared as he swaggered to the ground. Such a Christlike figure, offering it all up, like Jesus on the Cross. Gosh, it just makes you proud to be a catholic, doesn't it?
    He can't help it that most of his friends turn out to be child rapists. It's not his fault. And all his seminary friends, some even became bishops. It's not his fault that they turned out to be child rapists, too. Take Ziemann for example. It's not Cardinal Mahony's fault that Ziemann got to be a bishop even after he had molested kids. The Cardinal didn't know, of course not. When Cardinal Mahony recommended Ziemann for the job he just forgot to check the files. That's all.
    Jesus must be so happy to have such good, decent men performing religious ritual in His name.
    I'm gonna send the Cardinal a check for Christmas. Sounds like he deserves another vacation, poor guy.