Legal News

Cardinal to testify in clergy abuse case

By Richard Binder

Marking only the second time he has taken the witness stand to answer questions about alleged molestation by priests, Cardinal Roger Mahony is expected to testify in a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit in Fresno today.

Two brothers say they were molested by a priest for 14 years at a church in Wasco, a small town north of Bakersfield. For part of the time, according to legal documents, Mahony served in various high-level administrative positions in the Diocese of Fresno, which had jurisdiction over the parish.

Mahony last appeared in court in 1998 over allegations by two Stockton-area brothers that they were abused for years by a priest who was under Mahony's watch for some of the time. The case resulted in a $30-million jury verdict, which was later reduced to $7 million in a settlement. Mahony, who was the bishop of Stockton from 1980 until 1985, said in his testimony that he was unaware of the alleged abuse.

Mahony's testimony this week comes amid a federal grand jury investigation into whether the cardinal or other church leaders committed fraud by failing to adequately deal with priests accused of sexual abuse in Los Angeles.

Full story at LA Times.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on March 17, 2009 (boomark / email).