The Los Angeles Roman
Catholic archdiocese agreed to pay $720 million to clergy abuse victims. Internal files were released that showed
Cardinal Roger Mahony shielded priests and ordered an underling to withhold
evidence from police, but Mahony and other archdiocese leaders are unlikely to
face criminal charges. The Cardinal
exchanged money for the key to a jail cell.
For Cardinal Mahony and other
church hierarachy their priorities were to protect priests, keep parishioners
in the dark and defend the church's image. Suffering children were not even on
their radar.
What did the priest do? Nicolas Aguilar Rivera sexually abused 25 altar
boys, a young priest in training and100 additional children in Mexico both
before and after he “served” in Los Angeles. He was defrocked in 2009 after victims’
attorneys in Los Angeles filed the first of their lawsuits.
Where is the defrocked pedophile
now? He fled to his native Mexico in
January 1988 after Mahony's top aide, Monsignor Thomas Curry, tipped him off
about complaints from parents and warned that the church would call police. The
complaints came in on a Friday, and Curry met with the priest Saturday morning.
Police weren't notified until Monday. By then, Aguilar Rivera was gone.
Aguilar Rivera remains a
fugitive and is believed to be somewhere in Mexico. U.S. authorities have an
arrest warrant pending and could arrest him if he returns to American soil. What about the Mexican children? God help
them.
As is usual for all pedophile
enabler clergy, Cardinal Mahony was rewarded for his efforts. After giving his trial deposition last year,
he went to Rome and helped elect the new pope. A month ago, he celebrated Mass
with Pope Francis at the Vatican before having a private meeting with him. What
does this say about the catholic church, the pope and the college of cardinals
who elect the pope – that pedophile priests are more important than innocent
children.
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