Alleged Abuse Mainly Before Mahony’s Time

In “Mahony to Testify in Abuse Lawsuit” (April 3), regarding the possible deposition of Cardinal Roger Mahony, plaintiff attorney Raymond Boucher claims that the cardinal “had a hand in deciding the career paths of each and every one of those priests” accused of abusing children.

In the Los Angeles Archdiocese’s recently released comprehensive report on clergy sexual abuse statistics, however, it is noted that of the 520 claims against the archdiocese, the overwhelming majority allegedly occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, with some claims going back to the 1930s. (Indeed, the vast majority of claims only came to the archdiocese’s attention in 2002 and 2003.)

Mahony became archbishop of Los Angeles in late 1985. Several priests who have been accused of abuse in past decades were already dead by the time the cardinal came to Los Angeles, some were already retired or out of ministry, and a few had died before he had even been ordained a priest. So Boucher’s statement is obviously nonsensical.

Isn’t it time for The Times to cast as critical an eye on the statements of plaintiff attorneys as it regularly does on the comments made by those who represent the church?

Tod M. Tamberg

Office of Media Relations

Roman Catholic Archdiocese

Los Angeles