Roger Mahony

Roger Michael Mahony
Cardinal,
Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles
Archdiocese Los Angeles
Appointed July 12, 1985
Installed September 5, 1985
Term ended March 1, 2011
Predecessor Timothy Manning
Successor José Horacio Gómez
Other posts Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Quattro Coronati
Orders
Ordination May 1, 1962
by Aloysius Joseph Willinger
Consecration March 19, 1975
by Hugh Aloysius Donohoe, William Robert Johnson, and John Stephen Cummins
Created cardinal June 28, 1991
by John Paul II
Rank Cardinal-Priest
Personal details
Birth name Roger Michael Mahony
Born (1936-02-27) February 27, 1936
Los Angeles, California, United States
Nationality American
Denomination Roman Catholic
Parents Victor and Loretta Mahony
Previous post
Motto To reconcile God's people
Styles of
Roger Michael Mahony
Reference style His Eminence
Spoken style Your Eminence
Informal style Cardinal
See Los Angeles (Emeritus)
Ordination history of
Roger Mahony
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated by Hugh Aloysius Donohoe (Fresno)
Date March 19, 1975
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Roger Mahony as principal consecrator
George Patrick Ziemann February 23, 1987
Armando Xavier Ochoa February 23, 1987
Carl Anthony Fisher February 23, 1987
Sylvester Donovan Ryan May 31, 1990
Stephen Edward Blaire May 31, 1990
Joseph Martin Sartoris March 19, 1994
Thomas John Curry March 19, 1994
Gabino Zavala March 19, 1994
George Hugh Niederauer January 25, 1995
Gerald Eugene Wilkerson January 21, 1998
Edward William Clark March 26, 2001
Oscar A. Solis February 10, 2004
Alexander Salazar November 4, 2004

Roger Michael Cardinal Mahony KGCHS (born February 27, 1936) is an American cardinal and retired prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Los Angeles from 1985 to 2011. Before his appointment as Los Angeles archbishop, he served as Auxiliary Bishop of Fresno from 1975 to 1980 and as Bishop of Stockton from 1980 to 1985.

Born in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles and raised in the city's San Fernando Valley area, Mahony was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Monterey-Fresno in 1962. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Fresno in January 1975 and consecrated bishop in March 1975. He was then appointed Bishop of Stockton in 1980. In 1985, Mahony was appointed Archbishop of Los Angeles by Pope John Paul II, and became the first Los Angeles native to hold the office. He was created a cardinal in 1991 by Pope John Paul II and voted in the papal conclaves that elected Popes Benedict XVI and Francis.

During his tenure as Los Angeles archbishop, Mahony was instrumental in dividing the archdiocese into five administrative subdivisions and in guiding the construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, which opened in September 2002. He has also been an instrumental figure in working to cover up sexual abuse in the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal, relocating dozens of priests in order to avoid prosecution and cast aspersions on the Catholic Church. In 2007, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles apologized for abuses by priests and announced its record-breaking settlement with 508 victims worth $660 million.[1]

In 2011 Mahony reached the mandatory retirement age for bishops and was succeeded by José Horacio Gómez on March 1, 2011.[2] On January 31, 2013, Archbishop Gómez relieved Mahony of his public and episcopal duties in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, following the release of personnel files documenting priest sexual-abuse cases during part of Mahony's tenure.

Early life and priesthood

Roger Michael Mahony was born in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, the son of Victor and Loretta (née Baron) Mahony, a second-generation Irish American couple. He has a twin brother, Louis, and an older brother, Neil. As a child he attended St. Charles Borromeo Grammar School in North Hollywood and at age 14, he entered Los Angeles College, the junior seminary of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

After studying at the Our Lady Queen of Angels Seminary and St. John's Seminary, Mahony was ordained to the priesthood on May 1, 1962, by the Bishop of Monterey-Fresno, Aloysius Joseph Willinger, CSsR. He graduated from The Catholic University of America in 1964 with a master's degree in social work. For the next 13 years, he held pastoral and curial assignments in the Diocese of Monterey-Fresno and the newly formed Diocese of Fresno. He also taught social work at Fresno State University during this period. He was named a monsignor in February 1967.

Episcopal career

Coat of arms of Roger Mahony, on the cathedra in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles

On January 7, 1975, Mahony was appointed auxiliary bishop of Fresno and titular bishop of Tamascani. Mahony received his episcopal consecration on the following March 19 from the Bishop of Fresno, Hugh Donohue, with Bishops William Johnson and John Cummins serving as co-consecrators. That year, the Governor, Jerry Brown, appointed Mahony as the first chair of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board, where he worked with the United Farm Workers and various growers in the state to resolve agricultural labor disputes.

On February 15, 1980, Mahony was appointed Bishop of Stockton by Pope John Paul II, as announced by the nuncio, Jean Jadot. Mahony terminated two extern priests for sexual abuse during his tenure at Stockton. On July 16, 1985, Mahony was promoted to Archbishop of Los Angeles, the first native Angeleno to hold the office. Mahony was created Cardinal-Priest of Santi Quattro Coronati by Pope John Paul II in the consistory of June 28, 1991.

After the former Cathedral of Saint Vibiana was damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, Mahony began plans to construct the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, one of the largest Catholic churches in the United States. It was dedicated on September 2, 2002.

In May 1998 Mahony announced he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.[3] He underwent a prostatectomy on June 15, 1998; doctors at the time indicated that the surgery was "successful" and were optimistic that he would not require additional treatment.[4]

Mahony was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI, as well as the 2013 Papal conclave that selected Pope Francis.

Cardinal Mahony with Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA)

Civic involvement

Mahony was a member of the Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America. He served on a number of committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, including those on Liturgy, Pro-Life Activities, and Migration & Refugees. He is still a consultant for the latter two committees. In the Vatican, he was a member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (1984–1989) and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants (1986–1991). He was also a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications (1989–2000), Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See (2000–2019), and Congregation for Eastern Churches.

Mahony spoke out on provisions in immigration bills, such as the Sensenbrenner-King Bill, debated by Congress in late 2005 and 2006. He wrote to President Bush[5] that certain proposed measures would effectively outlaw the provision of charitable assistance and religious ministry to individuals not in valid immigration status. On Ash Wednesday, 2006, Mahony announced that he would order the clergy and laity of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to ignore H.R. 4437 if it were to become law.[6] He personally lobbied senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein to have the Senate consider a comprehensive immigration reform bill, rather than the enforcement-only bill that passed the House of Representatives.[7] Mahony also blamed the Congress for the illegal immigration crisis due to their failure to act on the issue in the previous 20 years, opposed H.R. 4437 as punitive and open to abusive interpretation, and supported S. 2611.[8][9]

In 1992 Mahony published a pastoral letter Film Makers, Film Viewers on the topic of television news and the entertainment industry.

Controversies

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

A few Catholics were upset about the non-traditional design and the amount of money that was spent on the new Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, although the parishes of the Archdiocese were not involved in the fund-raising. $190 million dollars were raised from Foundations and individual donors. Mahony defended the expense of the new cathedral to replace the previous earthquake-damaged cathedral citing the need for a community to have a Mother Church and religious center that unites people in faith and spirituality.[10][11]

Pastoral letter on the Mass

To prepare for the new Millennium, Mahony wrote a pastoral letter on the Mass entitled "Gather Faithfully Together: A Guide for Sunday Mass".[12] The letter called all parishes to plan and celebrate each Sunday Mass in order to deepen the faith-life of all Catholics through the Eucharist.[13] Some, including televangelist Mother Angelica, found "Gather Faithfully Together" to be inconsistent with their interpretation of existing official liturgical directives set by the Catholic Church.[14] Others, however, found the letter to be visionary, inviting the Catholic Church to a more fruitful celebration of the Eucharist. It would be adopted by parishes all across the English speaking world over the years.[15]

Vocations

The number of priestly vocations declined under Mahony's leadership.[16] By contrast, lay ministries grew and Mahony has said, "What some refer to as a 'vocations crisis' is, rather, one of the many fruits of the Second Vatican Council. It is a sign of God's deep love for the Church, and an invitation to a more creative and effective ordering of gifts and energy in the Body of Christ."[17]

Sexual abuse cases

In 1980, shortly after Mahony became Bishop of Stockton, California, a parent wrote to the diocese accusing Father Oliver O'Grady, a priest of the diocese, of molesting his two sons. Mahony had O'Grady transferred to another parish in 1982, where more abuse accusations followed.[18] In 1984, a police investigation into accusations against O'Grady was closed after a diocesan lawyer promised that O'Grady would be kept away from children.[19] In December of that year Mahony had O'Grady transferred to another parish. Mahony was promoted to Archbishop of Los Angeles the following year. In 1998 he testified in a civil trial against the Diocese of Stockton, in which a jury awarded $30 million to two of O'Grady's victims.[19] O'Grady later was featured as the subject of the 2006 documentary film, Deliver Us from Evil.

Upon becoming Archbishop of Los Angeles in 1985, Mahony was active in addressing sexual abuse cases. Ray Boucher, a lawyer representing some of the plaintiffs in those cases, said the files released on Monday were "particularly damning," because they showed the "wanton disregard for the health and safety of children, and a decision by the highest members of the church to put its self-interest and the interest of abusive priests ahead of those of children." In 1988, the Archdiocese adopted a zero tolerance policy. In 1992, at a national meeting of Catholic bishops, Mahony publicly addressed the need to do more to combat sexual abuse. In 2002, Mahony directed that as many as a dozen Southern California priests be forced to leave the church due to sexual abuse, in compliance with the church's promises in a 2001 settlement, resulting in praise from the victim's attorney in that case.[20]

In February 2004, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles issued the landmark Report to the People of God, containing a direct signed apology from Cardinal Roger Mahony. It included a detailed list of priests and circumstances in cases of known abuse. The report described the development of diocesan policy related to sexual abuse, and contained case studies of accused priests that fully explored how awareness and understanding of their crimes unfolded. The report contained details of the most significant cases in the history of the archdiocese; it did not release details of 33 priests who were accused but whose cases lacked confirmatory evidence. The church continued to fight against release of details on these priests despite strong criticism from media such as the Los Angeles Times.[21][22]

In 2007, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles apologized for abuses by priests and announced its record-breaking settlement with 508 victims worth $660 million, with an average of $1.3 million for each plaintiff. Mahony described the abuse as a "terrible sin and crime". The agreement settled all outstanding civil lawsuits against the archdiocese. The deal dwarfs the $157 million settlement paid by the Archdiocese of Boston; Massachusetts law places a legal dollar cap on how much money a non-profit group can be required to pay.[1]

In 2013, the diocese released memos from Monsignor Thomas John Curry to Mahony dating to 1986 and 1987; these revealed specific discussions regarding potential legal accountability for priests, including recommending that priests should try to avoid using therapists who might report them to police. At the time, Mahony wrote to the director of a treatment center in New Mexico, seeking to prevent accused priests from returning to Los Angeles. Among the reasons cited was to prevent the filing of lawsuits by victims who had been assured that these priests would not be allowed to return to their parishes.[23]

In 2018, a petition was launched to remove Mahony from St. Charles Borromeo and press criminal charges. In September 16, 2018, hundreds of people protested in front of St. Charles Borromeo in North Hollywood California.[24]. Mahony was never investigated for crime and for covering up hundreds of child molesters[25]

Retirement

On April 6, 2010, with Mahony due to reach his mandatory retirement age of 75 the following year, the Vatican under Pope Benedict XVI named San Antonio archbishop José Horacio Gómez as the Coadjutor Archbishop of Los Angeles with immediate right of succession to Mahony.[26] Gómez succeeded Mahony on February 28, 2011, after the ceremony of transition held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, with Mahony's resignation taking canonical effect on March 1, 2011.[27]

In his retirement, Mahony intended to devote more time to advocacy on behalf of immigrants, an issue that he has supported for many years.[28] He resides at his childhood parish in North Hollywood. He is no longer eligible to participate in any future papal conclaves because he passed his 80th birthday on February 27, 2016.

Removal from public duties

On January 31, 2013, in the wake of a court order requiring the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to release its unredacted files on clergy sexual abuse, Archbishop Gómez relieved Mahony of all of his remaining public and administrative duties.[29][30] Critics called Gómez's action "purely symbolic punishment" and "hand-slapping...a nearly meaningless gesture", and noted that Mahony remains "a powerful man" in the church.[30] According to the archdiocese, Mahony remains "a priest in good standing" and may still celebrate Mass, but he may no longer speak publicly[31] or exercise any responsibilities ordinarily reserved for a bishop, such as administering the sacrament of Confirmation.[29] Under canon law, as Mahony is a cardinal, he enjoys the "privilege of forum", meaning that the only the pope is competent to judge and punish Mahony in matters subject to ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Gómez only has the authority to control Mahony's administrative assignments within the archdiocese.[32] Mahony continued to administer confirmations later in 2013.[33] He still held the titles of Cardinal and Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles,[29] and retained his Vatican appointments.[34] Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, a number of Catholic groups voiced opposition to Mahony's voting in a papal conclave so soon after his censure;[35] however, Mahony participated in the conclave in March 2013.[36][37][38]

Cardinal Mahony was appointed special papal envoy to the 150th anniversary celebration of the Diocese of Scranton, in Pennsylvania. However, this was protested locally, and he cancelled out, with no replacement being named.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "LA cardinal offers abuse apology". BBC News. July 16, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Cardinal Roger Mahony passes leadership of L.A. Archdiocese to Jose Gomez" Retrieved: 2011-02-27.
  3. ↑ Stammer, Larry B (May 29, 1998). "Mahony Faces Cancer Surgery". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  4. ↑ Shuit, Douglas P. (June 16, 1998). "Mahony Has Successful Surgery for Prostate Cancer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  5. ↑ White, Deborah (May 19, 2006). "Catholic Cardinal Mahony Slams House Bill HR 443". About.com: US Liberal Politics. Archived from the original on February 10, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2008.
  6. ↑ Donald Kerwin (May 8, 2006). "Immigration reform: what the Catholic Church knows". Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. Archived from the original on April 21, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2007.
  7. ↑ John L. Allen, Jr. (April 14, 2006). "Mahony on immigration". National Catholic Reporter. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2007.
  8. ↑ "Cardinal Mahony speaks out on immigration reform". Day to Day. National Public Radio. March 29, 2006. Retrieved April 11, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Catholic Church officials spurn immigration reform plan". American Morning. CNN. March 29, 2006. Retrieved April 11, 2007.
  10. ↑ Farrell, Michael J. (April 9, 1999). "Los Angeles Cathedral – controversy over the construction of the church for the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
  11. ↑ Nelson, Mike (September 11, 2002). "New Los Angeles cathedral dedicated, opened to the world". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
  12. ↑ Cardinal Roger Mahony (September 4, 1997). "Gather Faithfully Together: A Guide for Sunday Mass" (PDF). Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  13. ↑ Jim Holman (January 1998). "You and I Are Not the Eucharist, You and I Are Poor Sinners: Mother Angelica on Mahony". Los Angeles Lay Catholic Mission. Archived from the original on January 16, 2001. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
  14. ↑ http://www.adoremus.org/97-11_gft.htm
  15. ↑ Gabe Huck (January 2004). "What We Have Done and What We Have Failed to Do: 40 Years After Vatican II's Call to Liturgical Renewal, We've Still Got a Long Way to Go". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  16. ↑ The Official Catholic Directory because the High School Seminary and the College Seminary were eventually closed. The reason: almost no graduates went on to the Major Seminary. However, the Juan Diego House for College Seminarians took its place, and a majority of their graduates have gone on to the Major Seminary and to priesthood ordination.New York: P.J. Kenedy & Sons, 1982–2010.
  17. ↑ "As I Have Done for You: A Pastoral Letter on Ministry", by Cardinal Roger Mahony and the priests of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
  18. ↑ Russell, Ron (April 18, 2002). "Mouth Wide Shut". New Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  19. 1 2 Lattin, Don (July 17, 1998). "$30 Million Awarded Men Molested by `Family Priest' / 3 bishops accused of Stockton coverup". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  20. ↑ Stammer, Larry B.; Lobdell, William (March 4, 2002). "Mahony Ousts Priests in Sex Abuse Cases". Los Angeles Times.
  21. ↑ "L.A. archdiocese reports on decades of abuse claims". USA Today. February 17, 2004.
  22. ↑ Guccione, Jean; Lobdell, William (April 20, 2006). "Details on 11 Priests Missing in '04 Report". Los Angeles Times.
  23. ↑ Kim, Victoria; Powers, Ashley; Ryan, Harriet (January 21, 2013). "L.A. church leaders sought to hide sex abuse cases from authorities". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  24. ↑ https://www.cleanthechurch.com
  25. ↑ https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2018/09/16/protesters-demand-criminal-investigation-resignation-of-ex-la-archbishop-roger-mahony/
  26. ↑ Pope selects Latino bishop from Texas to succeed Mahony Retrieved: 2010-04-06.
  27. ↑ "Cardinal Mahony Retires" Retrieved: 2011-02-27.
  28. ↑ Castro, Tony (February 24, 2011). "Cardinal Roger Mahony's era is ending, but not his advocacy". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  29. 1 2 3 Ryan, Harriet; Kim, Victoria (February 1, 2013). "Cardinal Mahony relieved of duties over handling of abuse". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  30. 1 2 Stoltze, Frank (January 31, 2013). "More than 100 LA Catholic clergy files released following sex abuse suit; Mahony pulled from duties". KPCC. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  31. ↑ Medina, Jennifer; Goodstein, Laurie (February 1, 2013). "Church Personnel Documents Released After Years of Resistance". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  32. ↑ Canon 1405 §1 and canon 1406 §2 Archived 22 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  33. ↑ Watanabe, Teresa (May 9, 2013). "After rebuke by archbishop, Cardinal Mahony takes higher profile". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  34. ↑ "Cardinal relieved of public duties for past failure to protect children". Catholic News Service. February 1, 2013. Archived from the original on March 5, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  35. ↑ KTLA report on opposition to Mahony going to Rome
  36. ↑ Winfield, Nicole (February 20, 2013). "Conclave brings out cardinals' dirty laundry". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  37. ↑ Kolk, Doug (February 23, 2013). "Catholics Petition Cardinal Roger Mahony Not to Cast Papal Vote". Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Cardinal Mahony tweets request for prayers before papal conclave". Los Angeles Times. March 12, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2013. Last tweet before moving to Casa Santa Martha, and Mass to Elect a Pope," Mahony tweeted from his account @CardinalMahony. "First Conclave meeting late Tuesday afternoon. Prayers needed.
  • "Mahony Card. Roger Michael". Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  • Mahony's blog
  • Archdiocese of Los Angeles website
  • Mahony's speech at the National Press Club, delivered May 25, 2000
  • "Called By God To Help", editorial by Mahony in The New York Times, published 2006-03-22
  • "Los Angeles Cardinal Hid Abuse, Files Show" New York Times, January 21, 2013
  • Landsberg, Mitchell (February 23, 2011). "Roger Mahony leaves a mixed legacy: Once seen as a possible candidate for pope, the cardinal's career was derailed by the church sex scandal". Los Angeles Times.

Episcopal succession

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Julijans Vaivods		 Cardinal-Priest of Santi Quattro Coronati
1991–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Timothy Manning		 Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles
1985–2011		 Succeeded by
José Horacio Gómez
Preceded by
Merlin Joseph Guilfoyle		 Roman Catholic Bishop of Stockton
1980–1985		 Succeeded by
Donald William Montrose
Preceded by
-		 Auxiliary Bishop of Fresno
1975–1980		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
Simon Tonyé		 — TITULAR —
Bishop of Tamascani
1975–1980		 Succeeded by
Jerzy Dabrowski
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