Disappointment With Mahony’s Leadership
Re “Cardinal Mahony Kept Cleric’s Abuse Secret for 16 Years,” May 16: As a faith-filled and dedicated 15-year-old Catholic, I would like to express my disappointment in the leadership of Cardinal Roger Mahony. For my entire life I have been devoted to my faith, and I have never encountered anything that has made me doubt what I believe in.
My 12-year-old brother has considered becoming a priest for many years. I have known many outstanding and very respectable priests throughout my life, and I would be thrilled for him become like them. However, the cardinal is in no way a role model for him.
This past summer I attended the youth leadership camp of the archdiocese. There I learned the importance of being a leader and all the qualities that a leader must posses. However, the cardinal has failed to perform in the same manner in which hundreds of youth were taught to perform at this camp. I now doubt the cardinal’s ability to lead the faithful community of Catholics in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Andy Wilcox
Burbank
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The fact that Cardinal Mahony knew of Father Michael Stephen Baker molesting children and did nothing to report it to either law officials or the parents of the victims is nothing short of an abomination. Why is it that any other scumbag on the street who molested children would be rightfully locked up in prison immediately but because these men wear robes and claim to be pious they’re just slapped on the wrist and moved on to another group of victims?
Mahony issued an apology to his “brothers” and signed it “His Eminence.” The dictionary defines eminence as “a position of prominence or superiority.” I would define Mahony as despicable and his cover-up of criminal activity heinous and unforgivable.
Brian Foyster
Los Angeles
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Cardinal Mahony offers his sincere, personal apologies for his failure to take firm and decisive action much earlier. This continuing disaster in lack of leadership not only points to the moral bankruptcy of the Catholic Church but, in an odd way, parallels Watergate, Richard Nixon’s downfall and the beginning of the public’s lack of faith in our leaders.
As far as I am concerned, Mahony’s and Boston Cardinal Bernard Law’s “failures” are much worse. It’s not a question of whether they should step down. Criminal proceedings need to happen against these Catholic leaders for aiding and abetting crimes and the obstruction of justice. These men not only hid the truth, they explicitly allowed these priests to continue their crimes.
As far as “Churchgate” is concerned, these men were supposed to be our spiritual leaders, yet it takes the media to force the truth out. These so-called leaders are supposed to show us the way to enlightenment, not detour us into lies and deceit.
It’s a bad day in this world when one cannot trust taking a child to church. I, for one, will not expose my child to such poor examples of human decency.
Greg Neri
Hollywood
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I find it incredible that Cardinal Mahony could say his biggest problem is that Father Baker wasn’t found guilty of a criminal act. After a confession in 1986, there should have come into play the teaching of the church that the individual must avoid “occasions of sin,” that is, situations where temptation would be strongest. As a corollary, others must refrain from placing that person where he would be subject to extreme temptation.
We are our brother’s keepers and should keep others from occasions of sin. Mahony was his brother’s keeper, and he failed Father Baker as much as he failed the children. Proof of a criminal act was not necessary and should not have been a problem. To bring legality in as an excuse for not living up to the tenets of your own religion is inexcusable.
Catherine Coveney
Los Osos
