Archbishop takes action on Mahony, Curry over abuse scandal

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Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez announced Thursday that Cardinal Roger Mahony would have a reduced role in the church and that Santa Barbara Bishop Thomas J. Curry has stepped down from that job amid recent revelations over their handling of the priest abuse scandal in the 1980s.
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latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/01/archbishop-takes-action-on-mahony-curry-over-abuse-scandal.html

I am very confused about this. How is it that a ordinary bishop could have authority over another bishop who is also a cardinal? Don’t cardinals have more authority than a non-cardinal bishop? Also, I did not even know that a bishop could take authority over another bishop. Can someone please explain this to me? And yes, I know they are both bishops even though one is also a cardinal.
 
:eek:

I’ve given family, friends, strangers, everybody pretty much every excuse in the book for maybe why some of the perpetrators of the sex abuse cover-ups might have not intended evil but made severe errors in judgment.

But straight out of His Excellency’s mouth: “The behavior described in these files is terribly sad and evil.”

Unbelievable.

God I ask you to heal the victims, restore the faith of the scattered flock, grant valor to remaining Catholics, and judgment to Cardinal Mahoney and Bishop Curry. Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us.
 
Holly3278 said:
latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/01/archbishop-takes-action-on-mahony-curry-over-abuse-scandal.html

I am very confused about this. How is it that a ordinary bishop could have authority over another bishop who is also a cardinal? Don’t cardinals have more authority than a non-cardinal bishop? Also, I did not even know that a bishop could take authority over another bishop. Can someone please explain this to me? And yes, I know they are both bishops even though one is also a cardinal.
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Cardinals don’t necessarily have more power than a non-cardinal bishop. In this case, Cardinal Mahony is a retired bishop in his archdiocese. Archbishop Gomez is currently the head bishop of Cardinal Mahony’s diocese, so he would have control over the cardinal.

Note: “Cardinal” is a title. Only cardinals have the power to vote in papal enclaves. Other than that, they are just like any normal bishop.
 
Holly3278 said:
I am very confused about this. How is it that a ordinary bishop could have authority over another bishop who is also a cardinal? .
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Let’s take these things one at a time and see if we can clear them up:
  1. Archbishop Gomez is the current Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, which means he and only he has authority to make decisions.
  2. Cardinal Mahoney is retired and serves administrative and public duties (e.g. Confirmations) at the pleasure of the Archbishop. Archbishop Gomez has asked the Cardinal to no longer perform these functions, which the Cardinal is obliged to do.
  3. Cardinal is an honorary title and carries no more authority than a Bishop. You do not need to be a Bishop to be named a Cardinal, by the way. It is Archbishop Gomez and only Gomez who has authority as the Bishop of LA.
Holly3278 said:
Also, I did not even know that a bishop could take authority over another bishop.
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  1. Bishop Curry is an auxiliary Bishop, meaning he serves at the pleasure of Archbishop Gomez. Unless and until the Pope appoints Bishop Curry to his own diocese, he does what the bishop of the diocese he is in, in this case Archbishop Gomez, tells him to do.
 
Whispers in the Loggia is usually accurate. See whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2013/01/there-is-no-excuse-in-la-defcon-5.html

He says:

While a sitting archbishop is fully free to make requests on the extent of his cardinal-predecessor’s role and public presence, by the provisions of canon law, the universal faculties granted every member of the College, or any limitation of them in specific instances, rest solely within the competence of the Holy See. Likewise, Curry’s departure as regional bishop for Santa Barbara has no legal effect on his formal standing in active ministry – only the 70 year-old prelate’s resignation submitted to Rome, and its acceptance by Pope Benedict, can officially end his tenure as an auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles.

I feel sick over all of this.
 
It is my opinion that Archbishop Gomez did the only thing possible under the circumstances. As painful as it is for the Church and all concerned, it is the right action. My prayers are with the Catholics of Los Angeles, especially those who have been victims of clerical sexual predators and were betrayed by their shepherds. I pray that healing may come.
 
Frankly this move took a lot of courage and moral integrity. The Diocese of L.A., and in fact the entire Church should be in our prayers as well as the victims and their abusers. Until total transparency is achieved, the Church will never be able to move on from this horrible affair.
 
Heartfelt prayers for the people of Los Angeles, the Santa Barbara region, and their Bishop.
 
in those matters which pertain to their own person, cardinals living outside of Rome and outside their own diocese are exempt from the power of governance of the bishop of the diocese in which they are residing.”
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cannon law.
 
catholictiger said:
in those matters which pertain to their own person, cardinals living outside of Rome and outside their own diocese are exempt from the power of governance of the bishop of the diocese in which they are residing.”
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That is true, in the sense that the local ordinary cannot prohibit him from saying Mass or hearing confessions.

But Cardinal Mahony can certainly be barred from administrative duties, as that is the function of the local curia, who serve entirely at the pleasure of the ordinary. (in other words, Cardinal Mahony cannot name himself the Episcopal Moderator of a Vicarate simply because he is a Cardinal)

In addition, the local Ordinary has authority over who may administer the Sacrament of Confirmation within his diocese (CCC 886)

Based off of what I have read, this seems to be what has happened. Cardinal Mahony has been removed from all administrative dutiues, and will no longer be called upon to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation.

But he still may publically say Mass (and I presume, hear confessions)
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+Gomez can Ask and it has appears as that he has Requested that the good Cardinal have no official role in his Archdiocese. That is allowable, although not very political. However that does not limit the powers of the Cardinal; that is solely up to His Holiness.

It appear from some posts here that several people need to review the powers and the importance of Cardinals.

On another point, ONLY His Holiness has the power to try (judge) a Cardinal. It is not within the scope of the role of the Laity to do so.
 
Kevin812 said:
+Gomez can Ask and it has appears as that he has Requested that the good Cardinal have no official role in his Archdiocese. That is allowable, although not very political. However that does not limit the powers of the Cardinal; that is solely up to His Holiness.

It appear from some posts here that several people need to review the powers and the importance of Cardinals.
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I think most have already. As far as administrative appointments, Canon Law does not make allowances for a Cardinal to appoint himself to an administrative role in a diocese

And that Canon’s are clear on the role of the Local Ordinary as granting permission to another bishop to Confirm within his diocese.

Which is exactly what has been stated, everything fully in accord with Canon Law ( as if anyone would expect any less of +Gomez). The universal faculties granted to members of the College ( to say universally say Mass and to hear Confessions) have not be abrogated.
On another point, ONLY His Holiness has the power to try (judge) a Cardinal. It is not within the scope of the role of the Laity to do so.
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I didn’t see anyone here judging the Cardinal, some of his actions yes, but not the person. Actions are not persons, they can be judged.

A person himself can only be judged by God, not even the Pope has that authority.

The role of the Holy See is to judge fitness of a person to remain in a public role as a minister of the Church. That we ourselves cannot judge, and I have not seen anyone here attempting to do so.
 
coachkfan1 said:
Frankly this move took a lot of courage and moral integrity. The Diocese of L.A., and in fact the entire Church should be in our prayers as well as the victims and their abusers. Until total transparency is achieved, the Church will never be able to move on from this horrible affair.
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I agree. The need for transparency is of critical importance.
 
Did Archbishop Gomez not have access to these files before now? If he did, why wait until they were released to the public before taking action?
 
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