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Storm of stories on investigation of LA Archdiocese shows mainstream media file copy-pasted reports

There was a storm of stories, but look closer. Almost every one of the articles run in media about the investigation of Cardinal Roger Mahony and the LA Archdiocese are just copy and pasted from the original LA Times story, and the Associated press story about it.   Wall Street Journal, CNN, copy and pasted from the LA Times story. For example, notice how many of them mention that US Attorney Tom O'Brien is "personally involved" in the investigation.  One reporter after another quotes Cardinal Roger  Mahony as being "mystified" and "puzzled" each one writing what the other writer wrote.

What started it all: On its Web site Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times quoted two anonymous law enforcement sources as saying Mahony is among those being investigated by the grand jury to determine if he failed to keep children safe from predatory priests.

Several reporters in the storm of stories did a little bit research on the -- law that was part of the leaked story . They then phoned an unrelated pundit such as a law professor somewhere to comment on the law. Then other reporters copy and pasted the quotes from law professors and called that a story.

The real story is how much the public and crime victims are thirsting for an investigation, want these crimes prosecuted.

Here is a documentation of the storm with all these media outlets telling pretty much the exact same story, phrases changed - except for me, LA CIty Buzz Examiner.  

At The University of Texas where I studied journalism, they said, always have something new to say.  Never repeat what other writers have already said, or it is not new, hence news.  Of course I graduated in 1978, before the dumbing down of America began:

Here is the mainstream media mush storm of copy and pasted from each other stories documented:
 

US attorney adds Mahony to his file
Los Angeles Times, CA - 21 hours ago
Now he has immersed himself in a grand jury investigation into Cardinal Roger M. Mahony's handling of sexually predatory priests in the Archdiocese of Los ...
Former LA priest is sentenced to three years in prison for sex crime
Los Angeles Times, CA - 41 minutes ago
By Jack Leonard A former Los Angeles priest at the center of Cardinal Roger Mahony's unsuccessful attempts to keep archdiocese personnel records from county ...
Ex-priest gets 3 years in prison for molesting boy
The Associated Press - 1 hour ago
The sentencing took place against the backdrop of a reported grand jury investigation of the actions of Cardinal Roger Mahony and other Los Angeles ...
Grand Jury Investigates Los Angeles Priest Cases
New York Times, United States - Jan 29, 2009
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Los Angeles, confirmed Thursday that a federal grand jury is investigating ...
Cardinal law
Los Angeles Times, CA - 23 hours ago
Our initial response to reports in The Times that a federal grand jury is investigating Cardinal Roger M. Mahony for his alleged role in covering up child ...
Prosecutor in LA church abuse tries fraud tactic
The Associated Press - Jan 29, 2009
He would have to show that parishioners were denied the honest services of Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and other church leaders. ...
Cardinal 'mystified' at reported federal probe into abuse cases
Catholic News Service, DC - 7 hours ago
By Catholic News Service LOS ANGELES (CNS) -- Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles said he is "mystified and puzzled" at reports that a federal ...
A roundup of today's other world news in brief:
Irish Times, Ireland - Jan 29, 2009
LOS ANGELES – Cardinal Roger Mahony and the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles are being investigated by federal authorities over accusations of covering ...
Experts question inquiry of Cardinal Mahony
Daily Breeze, CA - 21 hours ago
But legal experts were questioning Thursday whether US Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien has a chance of convincing a jury that Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and other ...
Former priest gets 3 years for abuse
United Press International - 3 hours ago
George Miller, 70, was a central figure in the controversial efforts by Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony to deny prosecutors access to archdiocesan ...
LAT Minimizes School Sex Scandals But Trumpets Flimsy Story on ...
NewsBusters - 22 hours ago
The article begins, "The US attorney in Los Angeles has launched a federal grand jury investigation into Cardinal Roger M. Mahony in connection with his ...
Cardinal Mahony Under Investigation for Clergy Sex Scandal Cover-Up
Lifesite, PA - Jan 29, 2009
By Kathleen Gilbert LOS ANGELES, January 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Federal investigators have launched a probe against Cardinal Roger Mahony and other ...
Archdiocese responds to reports of federal sex abuse probe
CNN - Jan 29, 2009
The Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal on Wednesday reported that Cardinal Roger M. Mahony is specifically targeted in a grand jury investigation ...
Report: Cardinal is under investigation by LA grand jury
Kansas City Star, MO - Jan 29, 2009
That's according to the Los Angeles Times, which says that Cardinal Roger Mahony is under investigation for how he handled the priest-sex-abuse cases from a ...
Crime victims applaud US Attorney investigation of LA Archdiocese ...
Examiner.com - 16 hours ago
... the US Attorney has begun an investigation of Cardinal Roger Mahony and the Los Angeles Archdiocese, in a meeting with the press Wednesday January 29. ...
US Investigates Los Angeles Archdiocese Officials
Wall Street Journal - Jan 28, 2009
Cardinal Roger Mahony, shown at a ceremony in Los Angeles last year, faced criticism by victims' groups for his handling of allegations against priests. ...
Sex, lies and legal theory: Feds probe LA archdiocese
Commonweal, NY - 12 hours ago
What it means is that the federal government is investigating whether church leaders such as Cardinal Roger Mahony committed a crime by being dishonest in ...
Unholy act? Cardinal Mahony investigated
NECN, MA - Jan 29, 2009
(NECN/KABC) - According to unnamed sources in the LA Times and the Wall Street Journal, a federal investigation will determine whether Cardinal Roger Mahony ...
Nation briefs: Grand jury investigates LA archbishop
Newsday, NY - Jan 29, 2009
A federal grand jury investigation into Cardinal Roger M. Mahony has been launched by the US attorney in Los Angeles in connection with his response to the ...
Former Priest Sentenced for Molesting 9-Year-Old
NBC Los Angeles, CA - 4 hours ago
Tamberg said Cardinal Roger Mahony -- who is currently under investigation by a federal grand jury for allegedly covering up sexual abuse by clergy ...
LA diocese investigated for sexual abuse
WBIR-TV, TN - Jan 29, 2009
Federal prosecutors in California are reportedly investigating Cardinal Roger Mahony and other officials at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. ...
Grand jury targets Cardinal Mahony
abc7.com, CA - Jan 28, 2009
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- US Attorney Thomas O'Brien launched a federal grand jury investigation of Cardinal Roger Mahony, the Los Angeles Times reported ...
Abuse investigation targeting cardinal
MarketWatch (press release) - Jan 29, 2009
LOS ANGELES, Jan 29, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Cardinal Roger Mahony, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Los Angeles, is under investigation for his ...
The Cardinal Is Mystified
LA Weekly, CA - Jan 29, 2009
by Steven Mikulan KNX Radio reporters Dick Helton and Vicky Moore today interviewed LA Archdiocese Cardinal Roger Mahony (audio file) about the LA Times ...
Report: LA cardinal again faces questions of response to alleged ...
KMPH Fox 26, CA - Jan 29, 2009
Two anonymous law enforcement people tell the Los Angeles Times that Cardinal Roger M. Mahony is among those being investigated by a federal grand jury to ...
Archdiocese responds to report of government investigation
The Tidings, CA - Jan 29, 2009
... is not aware of any fact or set of facts that would support a responsible federal investigation of the Archdiocese or of Cardinal Roger Mahony. ...
Honest Services Theory Used in Priest Abuse Cover-up Probe
ABA Journal, IL - Jan 29, 2009
Church lawyer J. Michael Hennigan confirmed that prosecutors had sought information from the diocese but said Cardinal Roger Mahony is not a target. ...
Morning Sixpack: A News Roundup
LA Weekly, CA - Jan 29, 2009
... but the LA Times is reporting that a federal grand jury is investigating Los Angeles Archdiocese Cardinal Roger Mahony for not protecting parishioners ...
Mahony 'mystified' by federal investigation into priest abuse
Los Angeles Times, CA - Jan 29, 2009
Cardinal Roger Mahony said he was "mystified" about a federal grand jury probe of the Los Angeles Archdiocese over the priest abuse scandal, ...
Feds probe LA cardinal over priest cases-reports
Reuters - Jan 29, 2009
By Dan Whitcomb LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Cardinal Roger Mahony and the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles are being investigated by federal authorities over ...

 

LA cardinal says he's 'mystified' by federal probe
The Associated Press - Jan 29, 2009
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cardinal Roger M. Mahony said Thursday he was "mystified and puzzled" by a federal grand jury investigation into the handling of alleged ...
Pedophile ex-priest jailed for 3 years in US
AFP - 7 hours ago
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — A former Catholic priest was Friday sentenced to three years in jail for molesting a nine-year-old boy in the 1980s, US court sources ...
Ex-LA priest gets 3 year in prison for molestation
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 10 hours ago
By LINDA DEUTSCH AP Special Correspondent SAN FERNANDO, Calif.—A former Roman Catholic priest has been sentenced to three years in prison for molesting a ...
From the Los Angeles Times
Chicago Tribune, United States - Jan 29, 2009
A church lawyer says he was told Mahony is not the inquiry's target. By Scott Glover and Jack Leonard Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, archbishop of Los Angeles, ...
Angry mob? Does Cardinal Mahony call US Attorneys angry mobs ...
Examiner.com - 16 hours ago
Does Cardinal Mahony call US Attorneys angry mobs? Videos at LA City Buzz Examiner by Kay Ebeling, LA City Buzz Examiner Video: Reporter hands SNAP leader ...
LA Cardinal baffled by reported clergy abuse probe
AFP - Jan 28, 2009
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, who in the past has been accused by victims of clergy abuse of attempting to cover up the scandal, said he was unaware that he had ...
Report: LA cardinal subject of federal probe
The Associated Press - Jan 28, 2009
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Federal prosecutors are investigating Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and other officials of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles over ...
Report: LA cardinal subject of federal probe
The Associated Press - Jan 28, 2009
Citing two unidentified law enforcement officials familiar with the case, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that Cardinal Roger M. Mahony is among ...
Search Off The Record:
Catholic Culture - 14 hours ago
In Los Angeles the US attorney, frustrated that Cardinal Mahony has escaped legal punishment for his role in the sex-abuse scandal, is using a novel legal ...
Former Priest Gets Prison Time For Molesting Boy
CBS 2, CA - 10 hours ago
The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. ...
Feds Investigating Cardinal Mahony Over Abusive Priests
MyFox Los Angeles, CA - 21 hours ago
Cardinal Roger Mahony said Thursday he was "mystified" as to why a federal investigation was looking into alleged cover- ups of sexual abuse of children by ...
LA cardinal ‘mystified’ by federal investigation
Indiana Daily Student - 23 hours ago
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony said Thursday he was “mystified and puzzled” by a federal grand jury investigation into the handling of alleged clergy child ...
Cardinal Mahony under federal grand jury investigation over priest ...
Catholic Culture - Jan 29, 2009
A federal grand jury is investigating whether Cardinal Roger Mahony committed fraud in response to allegations of the sexual abuse of minors by priests of ...
Report: Grand jury probes LA cardinal over molestation cover-up
Monsters and Critics.com - Jan 29, 2009
Los Angeles - A federal grand jury is investigating Cardinal Roger Mahony, the top Catholic official in Los Angeles, in connection with his response to the ...
LA cardinal says he's 'mystified' by federal probe into response ...
KTVN, NV - Jan 29, 2009
AP - January 29, 2009 10:44 AM ET LOS ANGELES (AP) - Cardinal Roger M. Mahony says he is "mystified and puzzled" by a federal grand jury investigation into ...
LA cardinal says he's 'mystified' by federal probe
KCAU, IA - Jan 29, 2009
AP - January 29, 2009 2:13 PM ET LOS ANGELES (AP) - Cardinal Roger Mahoney says he's "mystified and puzzled" by a federal grand jury probe into how the Los
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LA City Buzz Examiner

An accomplished journalist and freelance writer, Kay Ebeling writes about "The Other L.A." not covered by traditional mainstream media.

Comments

  • mike ference 3 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Letter to editor for your consideration
    Mike Ference
    817 Worthington Avenue
    Clairton, PA 15025
    Email: Ference@icubed.com

    War Tactics Should Be Applied to Mahony
    By Mike Ference

    Every day brings new evidence that we no longer live in a civilized and principled society. The worst part, it usually concerns another case of sexual misconduct involving a Catholic priest, young children and a church hierarchy that helped to cover up the case.

    The recently unveiled federal grand jury investigation into the Los Angeles Archdiocese and it’s leader, Cardinal Mahony clearly suggests that a regime change should have been made long ago.

    To be sure, media pressure and public outrage and a billion dollars in pr fees, legal fees and settlements have inspired displays of contrition from Mahony But as more and more cases of abuse — and cover-up — come to light, one begins to wonder whether Mahony should be considered any more trustworthy than, say, Saddam Hussein.

    So — what should be done if the grand jury finds Mahony to be just another member of the hierarchy more concerned with protecting dysfunctional sex freaks than innocent children? Given the level of wreckage and anguish caused in the lives of so many people, it seems appropriate to look to the war on terror for a model strategy.

    A first prong of attack might involve a Special Forces unit made up of highly skilled and trained military personnel capable of tracking down and obtaining confessions from any current or former priests accused of acts of sexual abuse against children. If rights are violated, if military personnel sometimes go a little too far, so be it. The Catholic Church had ample opportunity to fess up and repent. Those incapable of civilized behavior shouldn’t expect the rights and privileges of civilization.

    A deck of cards can be created to help identify hard-to-find priests as well as the disgraceful church leaders who permitted, and in essence, condoned the sexual abuse of young children. Photos of the most deviant and reprehensible church officials accompanied by a list of their offenses will encourage us all to do our patriotic duty in helping the authorities track down suspected priest-terrorists or at least be able to identify the culprits as they come and go freely because their sins where covered up and the time to criminally prosecute has expired.

    Another option would be to divide the nation into territories. A color-code warning system would be established, alerting parents about abusive priests being transferred into their respective regions. Depending on the designated color for a particular region, parents would know whether their children should serve at Mass, go on field trips, or even attend Catholic school that day.

    To aid this unique war on terror, a pool of money should be collected, not involuntarily from taxpayers, but voluntarily from those decent human beings who believe crimes committed against our children are sins that God takes very seriously. Some of the funds raised could then be turned into outrageously tempting reward sums for information leading to the capture of our targeted criminals. Once the rogue clerics have been imprisoned and forced to talk, I recommend that their confessions be given to someone like Steven Spielberg or George Romero. Hollywood writers and producers could create a blockbuster movie like Roots or Schindler’s List to serve as a bitter reminder that these crimes should never again be permitted to occur. Tom Savini could be hired to recreate the horror on the faces of child actors chosen to play parts.

    Proceeds from the movie could go to victims of abuse and their families. And no matter how old the crime, compensation would be available. There should be no statute of limitations when the rights of children have been violated by those who lived much of their adult lives perched on a pedestal heightened by the trust of innocent and vulnerable believers. In fact, I would extend compensation to the second and perhaps even third generation of sufferers. It would certainly include siblings denied the experience of growing up with a brother or sister untraumatized by such abuse. And since crimes of abuse tend to echo, it would extend to the victims of the victims as well.

    If all else fails, is it any less rational to declare war on the Catholic Church as part of a war on child abuse than it was to declare war on Iraq (which had nothing to do with 9/11 or Al-Qaeda and apparently had no weapons of mass destruction) as part of a war on terror? How many innocent children have been verifiably lost to this menace — and how many more will be lost if we don’t make a preemptive strike?

    As horrific as sexual abuse by priests may be, the perpetrators might merit a more forgiving place if only their superiors had the courage to do the right thing. For a few, counseling and close supervision might have been enough to prevent future abuses. Others clearly required something more intensive — a mental hospital or a prison.

    But repeated abuse, as well as willfully hiding the crimes and the criminals — as far as I can see, this brings us much closer to the realm of mortal sin. And the sinners include not just the church hierarchy, but also attorneys who ill-advised parents not to buck the system and take on the Catholic Church, or may even have provided inside information to thwart legitimate cases against the church, law enforcement officials who may have thought it best to warn church officials of pending investigations, and janitors, housekeepers, teachers, and employees of the Catholic Church who kept silent because of concerns about a paycheck, a 401K, a pension, or a fear of standing up to church authorities. God has a place for everyone — and if you abuse children or protect the abusers of children, we can only hope that your place is called hell.

  • hrh 3 years ago
    Report Abuse

    So Master Pedophile Pimp Mahony is "mystified" by the investigation? Pathetic old queen, clueless as ever.

  • Albino Luciani 3 years ago
    Report Abuse

    www.bishop-accountability.org
    /abusetracker for daily global vetted & verified coverage of the uncorrected crime spree of the Roman "La Cosa Nostra" Curia & USCCB (Unremoved Sexual Criminal Cabal Bishops).

    It's a MORTAL SIN to be donating any monies to the largest unprosecuted pedophile ring in the world, the Roman Catholic Church.

    The Curia's Motto Remains = ISAIAH 28:15!

    Edmund Burke reminds each of us: "The only condition for the triumph of evil is for good men (or women) to do nothing!"

    NO Curia REMOVAL or PUNISHMENT? No Problem! No Laity Monies Either! It's THAT Simple!

    Fiat Lux & Veritas!

    Albino Luciani,
    MURDERED POPE,
    NOT Smiling, From Heaven

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