Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyFebruary 18th, 2013
In January, Roger Cardinal Mahony, the retired Archbishop of Los Angeles, was relieved of all of his public and episcopal duties by his successor, Archbishop José Gomez, after posting tens of thousands of pages of previously secret personnel records of 122 priests who were accused of sexually abusing children. The records reveal that the claims of abuse went directly from the local parish level straight up to the top of the archdiocese, with Mahony being made personally aware of the abuse claims and working directly, with the full knowledge that the priests were subject to criminal investigation and prosecution, to shield the priests from the consequences of their criminal deeds by sending them out of state to New Mexico for therapy and keeping them out of state, for other dioceses to deal with, after their therapy had ended (unsuccessfully). The records also showed that another reason these priests were sent out of state is because Mahony was aware that California therapists have a legal duty of reporting child sexual abuses to local authorities.
In other words, Mahony oversaw a vast criminal racket to shield predatory men from having to face the legal consequences of sexually abusing underage boys. For decades, the families of these boys have been denied seeing these monsters held accountable for their crimes, with Mahony himself deeply embedding himself in numerous acts to obstruct justice. By the time Mahony reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 and handed the archdiocese over to his successor, changes had been made to how the archdiocese handles complaints going forward, but the families have yet to see their day in court. But when Gomez relieved Mahony of his remaining duties, Mahony recounted his self-serving version of the long disgusting history and protested, “I handed over to you an Archdiocese that was second to none in protecting children and youth.” Sadly, given what he was comparing his archdiocese with — Boston, New York, Dallas, San Diego, Denver, Louisville, Tucson, Davenport, Covington (KY), Charleston (SC), and in each of the rest of the 195 dioceses in the U.S. — those words were undoubtedly, sadly, true.
But now, before he leaves to go to Rome to help elect the next Pope, he wants you to know that all is forgiven:
Given all of the storms that have surrounded me and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles recently, God’s grace finally helped me to understand: I am not being called to serve Jesus in humility. Rather, I am being called to something deeper–to be humiliated, disgraced, and rebuffed by many.
I was not ready for this challenge. Ash Wednesday changed all of that, and I see Lent 2013 as a special time to reflect deeply upon this special call by Jesus.
To be honest with you, I have not reached the point where I can actually pray for more humiliation. I’m only at the stage of asking for the grace to endure the level of humiliation at the moment.
In the past several days, I have experienced many examples of being humiliated. In recent days, I have been confronted in various places by very unhappy people. I could understand the depth of their anger and outrage–at me, at the Church, at about injustices that swirl around us.
Thanks to God’s special grace, I simply stood there, asking God to bless and forgive them.
So if you’re worried about how all of the righteous anger being directed at Mahony over his criminal misdeeds has been affecting him, you can now sleep better at night. He forgives you.
Narcissism, thy name is Mahony.
Latest Posts
Featured Reports
In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.
When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.
In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.
On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.
Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"
At last, the truth can now be told.
Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!
And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.
Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.
Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.
Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.
The FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.
“Google” is a trademark of Google Inc.
© Box Turtle Bulletin. All Rights Reserved.
Posts 
Posts via daily email:
Timothy Kincaid
February 18th, 2013
Oh not only does our beloved cardinal forgive you, he asks God to forgive you as well. For surly confronting Mahony with anger is an offense against Heaven itself.
Oh the graciousness, the magnanimity. Bless him. He’s clearly on the road to sainthood.
MattNYC
February 18th, 2013
Stop calling me “Surly” — I am in a very good mood today! ;)
Ben in Oakland
February 18th, 2013
This might just be me, but I find that anyone who not only speaks to god but speaks for god as well has more than a slight touch of narcissism.
It seems more akin to a cosmic reach around.
Soren456
February 18th, 2013
To all the victims and parents of victims: “I’m sorry you feel that way.”
johnson
February 18th, 2013
Old trick in the book, deflect your crimes onto the victims. Anyone surprised?
Stephen
February 18th, 2013
The narcissism and vanity are breathtaking.
teeveedub
February 18th, 2013
Poor, poor Roger. He’s endured such humiliation. Let’s see now. Decades of people’s lives being ruined as the direct result of Mahony’s criminal action vs. a few taunts from indignant bystanders. Yeah, that sounds about even.
He goes on in the blog post to compare his “suffering” to Christ’s. If this isn’t enough to make you run screaming from the Catholic Church and all that it stands for, I don’t know what is.
JohnAGJ
February 18th, 2013
Methinks that Dante would have put the “good” Cardinal in a lower circle of Hades with quite a number of other bishops and popes…
TampaZeke
February 18th, 2013
Oh thank goodness! I’ll finally be able to sleep at night!
Richard Rush
February 18th, 2013
Next up: It’s being said that Charles Manson is finally on the brink of publicly forgiving Sharon Tate for ruining his life.
Kathy
February 18th, 2013
Note that the diocese and its current bishop did nothing to Mahony until the documents went public. Before that, they were fine with him.
At what point do Catholics quit supporting this sickening corruption? How does anyone with a brain or a moral compass still write a check to these pigs?
homer
February 18th, 2013
If you or I did this we would be sitting in prison for the rest of our lives.
revchicoucc
February 18th, 2013
I read this from Mahony earlier and was aghast at how self-serving it is, how unChristlike it is. He may have been humiliated by Gomez’s actions, but he has not been humbled by any genuine self-reflection about his own actions and inactions.
Roger, you’re not that important, not even to God. Oh, and, the folks you are forgiving don’t need to be forgiven. They haven’t done anything wrong.
Bill T.
February 18th, 2013
I won’t accept Roger’s forgiveness until a member of the proper authorities reads to him from the Book of Miranda: “Thou hast the right to remain silent…”
Hunter
February 18th, 2013
“In the past several days, I have experienced many examples of being humiliated.”
Just wait ’til someone sues his sorry ass.
Yeah,”narcissism” says it: self-absorption, self-pity, arrogance, lack of guilt, blaming others, the whole works — it’s all about him.
Titus
February 18th, 2013
What a remarkable display of the wonderful and wholesome spirit of Christianity, as shown to us thru this humble servant of God. Perhaps the upcoming Conclave will give us an even better gift, and raise this man to the highest office. What a joyful day that would be :)
**** SARCASM ALERT **** SARCASM ALERT ****
bill
February 18th, 2013
The Catholic Church has turned into pure filth. Vomit!
StraightGrandmother
February 18th, 2013
“reads to him from the Book of Miranda: “Thou hast the right to remain silent…—
L to the O to the L.
After reading the last sentence in the article I had to scroll back up to the top to see who wrote it as it sure sounded like something Rob would say, I was surprised Jim wrote that. Good ending to the article though!
David Jones
February 18th, 2013
“…to shield predatory men from having to face the legal consequences of sexually abusing underage boys.”
Actually, the papers list reported abuse of boys and girls. It’s full-service abuse.
MattNYC
February 18th, 2013
Two thoughts to keep me smiling:
BiO’s, “It seems more akin to a cosmic reach around.”
RR’s, “Next up: It’s being said that Charles Manson is finally on the brink of publicly forgiving Sharon Tate for ruining his life.”
:)
CPT_Doom
February 18th, 2013
@Titus
The good news is that, with people like Mahoney voting, whoever is chosen as the next Bishop of Rome is guaranteed to be as ruthless in weeding out corruption in the church as the current holder of that position.
Pacal
February 19th, 2013
Comments aren’t allowed at Mahony’s blog. Figures.
Andrew
February 19th, 2013
The church does take “turn the other cheek” and “love thy enemy” seriously (minus human failings), at least in theory. In that respect, people walking up to you in the street and abusing you fails to qualify as acting in a Christian fashion, and as such, it requires forbearance and forgiveness on the part of the recipient. What I’m hearing Mahoney say here, in fact, is that the abuse is helping him recover his grace, and that the experience of humiliation is serving as something of a remedy to the power and inaccessibility he has experienced. And I think he’s sincere in that expression, if not a little clueless.
I think he probably deserves to enjoy that experience in prison, but that’s another story.
AlexH
February 19th, 2013
The sad part is this SOB and the rest of his ilk diminish ANYTHING positive the Catholic Church (and others like it) have done.
MattNYC
February 19th, 2013
@AlexH
Trying to think of just **ONE** positive thing. Keep hitting death, destruction, theft of riches/bilking of the poor to build a city of gold, subjugation of women. Forced conversions/genocides of “pagans,” the burning of “heretics,” the banning of scientific thought, non-conformity, “certain” books & art.
Not knocking religion/faith/spirituality, per se. Just this highly-organized crime syndicate. (See also most other centralized religions/religious figures.)
Midwest Jeff
February 19th, 2013
And these emissaries of hell would have us believe they have the upper moral hand, and that their consistently sexist, anti-gay, and anti-logic statements come from on high.
Regan DuCasse
February 20th, 2013
I love being so inquisitive with the LAPD. There are vice squad and RHD officers and patrol officers and sex crimes and fraud squad officers only TOO, TOO willing to share professional expertise with their science division colleagues.
So I asked the sex crimes division about what’s been going on with trying to find out about any priests, cover ups and so on with the Arch diocese.
The RCC has a very interesting and very clever legal division of their own. For a very long time, their lawyers have counseled the local diocese on how to maintain a cloak of protection mostly through the priest and confessional, even if a VICTIM came to the confessional and told on a priest.
But certain things depended on changes within the church doctrine about results. Like if there was a pregnancy, or if a victim committed suicide or was acting out in some other way.
That is typically when the response would be how strongly the victim would want to come at the priest or church. Then the priest, if and when named, would be redacted in paperwork, moved to another parish far, far away.
If the abuse were same sex, the conclusion would be he was homosexual, THAT would be the only time he might be required to go to therapy or some other form of isolation, or he might be forced to leave the priesthood.
As far as the police was concerned, Father Mahoney NEVER cooperated. He refused to turn over any of the files he had. He sent them to Rome, or destroyed them (as many of the LAPD suspect), or redacted the pertinent information.
Certainly most of the cases have reached statute of limitation.
They considered trying the RICHO law and criminal conspiracy charges of that kind. Still working on it.
Imagine, the RC charged like the Mafia.
Because that is just how they’ve been doing business. Like organized crime.
And now, Mahoney makes a speech like that.
Makes you wanna holler.
And the Pope, wants immunity from any prosecution for hiding any information or criminals responsible for doing so.
Just like the Mafia.
Richard
February 21st, 2013
It was so honorable of Cardinal Mahony to be so Christ like and offer a prayer of forgiveness to the families and victims of the pedophile priests while confronting him for the coverup. How self righteous can a human ever become!! I hope justice is done and any bishop cardinal or even pope is held accountable and does jail time for any coverup and not reporting sexual abuse to the police. No one, clergy or even the pope should be above the law.
Leave A Comment