Mahony has not been punished
Given what's in the press, you may think that the Catholic Church has made great strides today with the public rebuke by Archbishop Gomez of Cardinal Mahony for his concealing sex abuse ...
Not so. Here's why ...
1) Gomez is not hero. He knew about the cover-up for some time yet chose only now, when it has been made public, to speak up ... ... Gomez was well aware when he took over in 2011 of the steps Mahony had taken to develop better clergy sex abuse policies and never questioned his leadership until Thursday, Mahony wrote. - Mahony defends legacy on church abuse in blog
2) It sounds good to say Mahony has been punished by being relieved of all his administrative and public duties, but in fact, being retired, he has no administrative or public duties anymore ... Mahony retired in March 2011. As Tamberg told me, since that time Mahony “has had no administrative duties.” - Cardinal Mahony barred from public ministry? (UPDATED)
3) It's all about PR spin and damage control ... McKiernan of bishopaccountability.org noted that Mahony will keep the title of "archbishop emeritus" and suggested his removal from public life was primarily an effort to blunt the wave of criticism likely to follow the file release. They are trying to gain control of what is truly a devastating time for them," he said. - Cardinal Mahony's removal not enough, church critics say
4) And at the end of the day, Mahony's life will go on as it has - he'll still be a retired archbishop and a cardinal with all the perks (like voting for the next pope, or OMG, being voted the next pope). Here's this from Whispers in the Loggia ...
[...] In a brief clarification issued late Friday afternoon Pacific time, Gomez said that Mahony and Bishop Thomas Curry – who resigned from his administrative post in the archdiocesan administration, but not as an auxiliary bishop of LA – both remained "bishops in good standing" and enjoyed "full rights" to minister "without restrictions."
And this ...
[...] While a sitting archbishop may make any request he wishes on the extent of his cardinal-predecessor's role and public presence, Gomez's announcement on Mahony technically has no force. By the provisions of canon law, the universal faculties granted every member of the College, or any limitation of them in specific instances, rest solely within the competence of the Holy See. Ergo, barring an explicit papal move restricting his de iure perks, Mahony retains his seat in a Conclave to elect the next Pope until his 80th birthday in 2016, and all the other prerogatives that come with the "red hat" for life.
So, only the pope can really punish Mahony for what he's done and I predict the pope will not do it. Meanwhile, Mahony defends his actions, signing an open letter to Gomez on his blog with this title: His Eminence, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles. Now there's an example of humble contrition ... not!
Not so. Here's why ...
1) Gomez is not hero. He knew about the cover-up for some time yet chose only now, when it has been made public, to speak up ... ... Gomez was well aware when he took over in 2011 of the steps Mahony had taken to develop better clergy sex abuse policies and never questioned his leadership until Thursday, Mahony wrote. - Mahony defends legacy on church abuse in blog
2) It sounds good to say Mahony has been punished by being relieved of all his administrative and public duties, but in fact, being retired, he has no administrative or public duties anymore ... Mahony retired in March 2011. As Tamberg told me, since that time Mahony “has had no administrative duties.” - Cardinal Mahony barred from public ministry? (UPDATED)
3) It's all about PR spin and damage control ... McKiernan of bishopaccountability.org noted that Mahony will keep the title of "archbishop emeritus" and suggested his removal from public life was primarily an effort to blunt the wave of criticism likely to follow the file release. They are trying to gain control of what is truly a devastating time for them," he said. - Cardinal Mahony's removal not enough, church critics say
4) And at the end of the day, Mahony's life will go on as it has - he'll still be a retired archbishop and a cardinal with all the perks (like voting for the next pope, or OMG, being voted the next pope). Here's this from Whispers in the Loggia ...
[...] In a brief clarification issued late Friday afternoon Pacific time, Gomez said that Mahony and Bishop Thomas Curry – who resigned from his administrative post in the archdiocesan administration, but not as an auxiliary bishop of LA – both remained "bishops in good standing" and enjoyed "full rights" to minister "without restrictions."
And this ...
[...] While a sitting archbishop may make any request he wishes on the extent of his cardinal-predecessor's role and public presence, Gomez's announcement on Mahony technically has no force. By the provisions of canon law, the universal faculties granted every member of the College, or any limitation of them in specific instances, rest solely within the competence of the Holy See. Ergo, barring an explicit papal move restricting his de iure perks, Mahony retains his seat in a Conclave to elect the next Pope until his 80th birthday in 2016, and all the other prerogatives that come with the "red hat" for life.
So, only the pope can really punish Mahony for what he's done and I predict the pope will not do it. Meanwhile, Mahony defends his actions, signing an open letter to Gomez on his blog with this title: His Eminence, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles. Now there's an example of humble contrition ... not!
posted by crystal | 7:44 PM
3 Comments:
When I read about this I couldn't help but think of what happened to Frs. Roy Bourgeois and Tony Flannery. This is such a sad indication of the backwardness of the hierarchy's values.
This isn't even a slap on the wrist--it's a pretend punishment. It doesn't even succeed as a PR move, which is all it was intended to be.
Hi PrickliestPear,
Yeah, Frs. Roy Bourgeois and Tony Flannery are punished and Mahony and Law not. The only real crime in the eyes of the Vatican seems to be a lack of uncritical loyalty to the hierarchy.
Far for me to give ya my Canadian two cents opinion Prick but there's no telling what sinner vic's 92% godlly cells might tell U>S (usual sinners NOW?
"GIVE "IT" UP VICTOR"! Ya know that we are gods and we agree with this Prick butt he/she should make "IT" clear that this bad man should be stoned to death when we gods catch him. So what do ya say Victor?
http://www.splendoroftruth.com/curtjester/2013/02/a-appropriate-and-long-overdue-response/
What can me, myself and i say except that The "ONE" without SINS should cast the first stone. :(
Go Figure folks!
Who said that? :)
Peace
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