The charges of sexual abuse by a priest against a minor aren't new. Neither are the allegations of cover-ups by the Los Angeles archdiocese. What is new, however, is who is making them. This time the testimony is coming from a member of archdiocese leadership inner circle.
According to a Los Angeles Times column, Monsignor Richard Loomis, former vicar of clergy for the archdiocese, has testified under oath that he wrote a memo in 2000, urging that the police be informed by the archdiocese of allegations of child molestation by Michael Baker, a now-defrocked priest. The testimony is part of a deposition being taken for a civil suit against the diocese and its embattled leader, Cardinal Roger Mahoney. It is the first indication in court that a paper trail of the alleged cover-up may still exist.Michael Baker has previously related that he made Cardinal Mahoney aware of his "problem" as early as the 1980s. He was sent to a treatment center in New Mexico but still allowed to serve as a priest in a more limited capacity provided he stayed away from minors. He didn't. In 2007 Baker was convicted of molesting three children and began serving a 10-year prison term.
As the L.A. Times relates, Mahony has apologized for allowing Baker to continue serving as a priest, and once said that of the 200 clergy members accused of misconduct involving 500 victims, Baker's was the case that "troubles" him the most. This has not, however, stopped the archdiocese from characterizing Msgr. Loomis and his testimony as untrustworthy. Again, from the L.A. Times:
"I don't know much about Loomis' memory of events," archdiocese spokesman Tod Tamberg said in an e-mail, "but I do know that he was very angry when Cardinal Mahony promptly removed him from ministry when credible allegations of misconduct were made against him."
Msgr. Loomis, who was once not only the archdiocese vicar of clergy but also canonical investigator for all complaints of sexual misconduct, is currently on leave over charges of... sexual misconduct.
Photo Credit:
1) Monsignor Richard Loomis (Anne Cusack/LA Times)
If you like reading my articles, you can click on "Subscribe by email" to receive notice when new ones are posted.
You might also enjoy these:
Comments
<<<Msgr. Loomis, who was once not only the archdiocese vicar of clergy but also canonical investigator for all complaints of sexual misconduct, is currently on leave over charges of... sexual misconduct.>>>
Oh good GRIEF. Sigh. What I wonder is if 'sexual misconduct' is particularly prelevant in the church, or if this is simply a reflection of how much 'sexual predation' there is out there among all of us, and simply because of it being tied to religion, this is more discussed. I don't know the numbers... or even if there ARE numbers on this. Anyone?
Hi Carol. The Church itself gave an answer to your question in a response to the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) criticism of them at the UN Human Rights Council. As you can see from this bit taken from IHEU about it, there's an even more critical question they just blew off.
"Exercising their right of reply to criticism by IHEU at the Human Rights Council on 22 September, the Holy See argued that the Catholic Church was not unique in having clergy who sexually abused children and young people - thereby comprehensively missing the point. No doubt there are abusers in all walks of life, but our point was not the abuse itself but the cover up in which some of the highest officials of the Church were implicated."
Churches have a Holy Duty to protect their clergy because if the pedophile clergy were locked up there would not be enough clergy to tend to God's flock.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!