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Cardinal Roger Mahony is criticized by name in a report today by the independent committee that looked into the Catholic church sex abuse scandal. The panel calls inaction by U.S. bishops in the face of allegations about abusive priests "grievously sinful...Somehow, the 'smoke of Satan' was allowed to enter the Church, and as a result the Church itself has been deeply wounded."
About Mahony the report says:
"After allegations were made that Cardinal Mahony had allowed numerous predator priests to remain in the ministry, the archdiocese engaged in a very public spat with law enforcement agencies who questioned his level of cooperation in the criminal investigation..."The archdiocese resisted grand jury subpoenas...by arguing that communications between priests and bishops were privileged. This argument did little to enhance the reputation of the church for transparency and cooperation."
The story is on the LAT website.
There were stories then about "The Viles" in LA and le vice anglais -- I think I remember one in LA Magazine -- but here's another link:
http://sfrsite.topcities.com/liz.htm
Posted by: Amy Alkon at February 27, 2004 09:30 PM
of LA Observed
That's what I love about the Catholic Church, and why I can't let go of it entirely: its utterly unrepentant wit, even in the face of adversity.
I recall, fondly even, that "smoke of Satan" from college in the seventies. It was the precise moment in history before the twin fatal scourges of Yuppieism and AIDS hit our shores; it was when baby boom was sewing its wildest oats; it was when the bulk of these abuses occured. I especially recall it in 1979, the very peak year for sales of that special smoke, as well as for what smart circles used to call le vice anglais.
Posted by: joseph at February 27, 2004 04:52 PM