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Documents Reveal L.A.'s Catholic Church Covered Up Abuse, Victims Demand More Than Just an Apology
Cardinal Roger Mahony leads Christmas mass at The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels December 25, 2010 in Los Angeles (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
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The Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles is in the hot seat again as victims of childhood sexual abuse demand a public admonishing of officials who covered up molestations by the clergy.
Additionally, prosecutors with the L.A. County District Attorney's Office say they are going to take a look at recently-released internal church documents.
Those documents, released Monday as part of a pending civil lawsuit against the archdiocese, indicate Cardinal Roger Mahony was personally involved in the cover-up of sexual abuse of children at the hands of clergy, claims the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), according to City News Service.
SNAP's Joelle Casteix said Mahony "personally managed the careers of predator priests."
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The documents chronicle conversations between Mahony and a monsignor serving as Mahony's chief adviser on sex abuse issues discussing ways to keep law enforcement from finding out about cases of abuse that took place in the 1980s. Specific strategies were proposed to keep the cops away, and keep the clergy from seeking treatment from anyone obligated to alert authorities. Sending accused clergymen out of state was also outlined.
Archdiocese officials responded by saying they have already apologized for what they've done in the past and are doing all they can to make sure the abuse no longer happens. From a statement issued by the archdiocese:
"For more than a decade,however, few institutions have done as much as the Los Angeles Archdiocese to promptly report abuse allegations to civil authorities, to screen all those who supervise children and to train adults and children in the latest abuse- prevention procedures."
While the DA's office has said they will review the documents, it may be difficult to prosecute because so much time has passed since the alleged conspiracy to cover up the abuse.
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