MONTEREY PARK : Mahony Gives Latino Parish Apology but No Concessions

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony has apologized to parishioners of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Monterey Park for causing any “unnecessary hurts,” but said he stands firm on a decision to turn the mainly Latino parish into a center for Chinese American evangelism.

In a two-page letter to parishioners earlier this month, Mahony reiterated archdiocese assurances that none of the church’s Latino ministries would be terminated and that a Sunday Spanish-language Mass would continue to be celebrated by a visiting priest.

The archdiocese has replaced Father Brian Cavanagh, who speaks some Spanish, and will have three Chinese-speaking priests at the church. In the letter, Mahony defended that decision, telling parishioners that outreach to the Chinese American community fulfilled “the call of Jesus Christ that we bring the ‘Good News of Salvation’ to every person. . . .”

“At the same time, if we have failed to keep you informed and to keep you involved as fully as we should have, then that is my fault. . . . If anyone has felt hurt in any way by my lack of adequate information and involvement, then I hasten to apologize to you personally,” Mahony wrote.

Despite the letter, parishioners said this week that they will continue fighting the “takeover.” Parishioners, including some Chinese American members, want the archdiocese to provide a Spanish-speaking priest.