The New York Times reports that a former high-ranking official in the Los Angeles Diocese claims that Cardinal Roger Mahony ordered a delay in reporting child abuse cases to the police in order to defrock the alleged molester first. Court papers filed Friday also claim that Cardinal Mahony decided not to tell parishioners of the allegations of priest abuse. These claims were made in a deposition by a former vicar for clergy, Monsignor Richard Loomis.
This is information related to two priest abuse lawsuits filed in 2000. These suits claimed that a former (now-defrocked) priest, a Reverend Michael Baker, had abused the plaintiffs in the mid 1990's. The former priest was convicted and is already in prison on a 10 year sentence. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Los Angeles paid out $1.2 million in a settlement on the case. However, the investigation continues as there may have been criminal wrongdoing by the Archdiocese in its handling of this and other clergy abuse cases.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of priest abuse, it is crucial that you get legal representation from a clergy abuse attorney. The legal team at the Zalkin Law Firm is dedicated to fighting for fair compensation for those who have been injured by members of the clergy, and can assist you with making your claim for damages. It is the least you should expect after being victimized by a criminal hiding within a religious order.
