Mahony Supports ‘Dissenters’ : Cardinal Opens Church Conclave in Anaheim; Backs Nun, Organizer

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony opened one of the largest religious conferences in the world Friday by declaring his uncompromising support for two church officials now under attack by conservative Catholics as “dissenters in sheep’s clothing.”

Mahony’s backing of a leading nun in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and a conference organizer of the annual religious event was greeted with a rousing ovation from an estimated 10,000 delegates during the morning’s welcoming services at the Anaheim Convention Center.

At the three-day educational congress, more than 20,000 delegates from as far away as Poland and the Philippines are expected to participate in 240 educational workshops offering a range of topics from “Understanding HIV Infection and AIDS” to “Getting to Know Jesus Better.”

In his opening remarks, Mahony rose to defend Sister Edith Prendergast and conference coordinator Adrian Whitaker. Earlier this month, a small coalition of conservative Catholic groups demanded their resignations for inviting conference speakers who are critical of the Catholic Church and who have supported abortion rights as well as the ordination of women.

“I give my categorical and uncompromising support” to the organizers, Mahony told the audience. “The overall good of this congress through the years is without question.”

Even as a dozen picketers distributed leaflets warning that the gathering could damage one’s “spiritual health,” Mahony told delegates to “smother” the protesters with love. The annual conference, he said, is “one of the finest expressions of the church.”

Though the cardinal supported Prendergast and Whitaker, Mahony two weeks ago withdrew a conference invitation to Daniel Maguire, a former priest and abortion rights advocate.

Also, for reasons not disclosed, the Rev. John R. Aurelio of Buffalo, N.Y., was taken off the list of speakers after allegations surfaced that he had molested two boys 15 to 20 years ago.

In wake of the news about Aurelio, Mahony said a system will be implemented to do thorough background checks of those invited to speak at the conference.

In response to the controversy surrounding the conference organizers, delegate Steve Dzida, 43, who attends Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church in Huntington Beach, urged the archdiocese to continue inviting controversial and provocative speakers to the conference.

“These people are the kinds of people who are going to be able to lead us into the 21st Century,” said Dzida, an attorney. “Putting the wraps around them is like trying to take us back to the Dark Ages, when we were holding Inquisitions and throwing Galileo in jail because he didn’t accept the fact that everything revolved around the Earth.”

Most delegates seemed unruffled by the protesters from two groups calling themselves Catholics United for the Splendor of Truth and the Huntington Beach-based JP2, after Pope John Paul II.

“There’s always someone out there promoting some cause,” said Ted Shaw, a volunteer coordinator who has been to the last 20 religious conferences. “That’s their right.”

Though not familiar with the protesters outside, delegate Celeste Johnson, a 15-year veteran of the event, said the conference should recruit more minority speakers.

“Being an African American, I’d like to see a wider range of presenters,” said Johnson, 33, a teacher at San Miguel Catholic School in the Watts section of Los Angeles. “This conference tends to be very white, so is the church. There’s nothing wrong with that, we just need to broaden our appeal.”

Delegates spent most of Friday intently listening to a host of workshop speakers in search of new material to incorporate into their church teachings back home.

“Coming to something like this is a chance to get in touch with what’s happening in the church as a whole and not just what’s going on in your own little corner,” said Douglas Clipperton, 43, who teaches adult Catholic classes in Mojave. “It’s a good shot in the arm.”

For Leon Grygorczyk, a priest from Bialystok, Poland, the conference has already supplied him with ideas to take back to his church. “This is very different from Poland where in church, things are quiet,” said Grygorczyk. “Everyone here is so involved, waving their hands, singing and dancing. It’s very unusual to see this.”

Times Staff Writer Rebecca Trounson contributed to this story.