In the aftermath of the four-day Vatican summit on clergy sex abuse, the Ruth Institute renews its call for Roger Cardinal Mahony to withdraw from speaking at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress (March 22-24).
Ruth Institute President Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, Ph.D. notes that while Mahony was the head of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, “He had a terrible record of covering up clergy sex abuse, to such an extent that the Archdiocese was forced to pay $660 million in damages – the largest such settlement in the Church’s history.”
In a recent letter to Cardinal Mahony, Morse notes her work as an advocate for survivors of the sexual revolution, many of whom have suffered from childhood sexual abuse. “Rightly or wrongly, they see you as a symbol of the mishandling of the sexual abuse of children by the clergy,” Morse said in her letter to Cardinal Mahony.
The Ruth Institute, an inter-faith, pro-family organization combatting the Sexual Revolution and clerical sex abuse, is also sponsoring a petition asking retired Cardinal Mahony to withdraw from the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the largest Catholic gathering in the US.
The Petition observes that due to Cardinal Mahony’s mishandling of the abuse scandal in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Archbishop Jose Gomez relieved him of administrative and public duties in 2013. Cardinal Mahony’s dismal record was thoroughly documented by the Los Angeles Times.
Dr. Morse stated, “The Cardinal’s participation in the Religious Education Congress is an insult to the victims of clergy sex abuse, and all Catholic faithful. It is also out of step with the Church’s attempts to address the crisis, reflected in the summit at the Vatican.”
Dr. Morse concluded: “Your Eminence, with all due respect to your office, show some class. Stay home from the Religious Education Congress. Your presence will be hurtful to people who have already suffered enough.”
To sign the petition asking that Cardinal Mahony withdraw from the L.A. Congress, go here.
