A former Roman Catholic Priest, Michael Baker, who has been convicted of sexually molesting children, has been called to testify to the Grand Jury regarding how the Los Angeles Diocese handled abuse claims reports the StarTribune.com. The ex-priest had been transferred into federal custody at least three months ago in order to be interviewed by the Grand Jury in a federal investigation. Baker apparently invoked the constitutional right against incriminating himself to the grand jury when interviewed. In 2007, Baker was convicted and imprisoned for a 10-year sentence for sexually abusing two boys.
Baker has been accused of molesting over 20 young boys over more than 20 years, and is considered the Los Angeles Diocese's most dangerous pedophile, and also the most potentially dangerous to the reputation of Cardinal John Mahoney. Mahoney has earlier admitted that he had made errors in how he handled the case of ex-priest Baker. Apparently, when Mahoney had been informed of the claims against Baker, rather than reporting the crimes to authorities, he sent Baker to a Catholic facility that handles priests with sexual problems. Baker was then assigned to 9 other parishes, but had been restricted from having one-on-one contact with minors, which he managed to violate at three times, according to personnel files released by the church. In 2000, the Los Angeles Diocese removed Baker from the ministry after he was arrested and charged with molesting two young boys from 1984-1999. The archdiocese paid a $1.25 million settlement in the case.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles paid a record-breaking $660 million in 2007 to settle more than 500 claims of sexual abuse. The Los Angeles Diocese has been under investigation by the District Attorney's office for several years, but up to now no criminal charges have been filed.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of priest abuse, it is vital that you contact a clergy abuse attorney to assist you with your claim. The legal team at the Zalkin Law Firm has assisted countless survivors of clergy abuse in their claims for compensation for damages.
