About the Cardinal's account
Since I recently activated "comments moderation" here because of repeated bitter, completely off-topic and just plain wrong attacks by one or more troll-commenters, I've published most every comment. I love to hear what you have to say, and everyone else does, too.
Two comments, though, as I've already mentioned, I somehow accidentally deleted -- one on the Latin Mass.
A few other comments I deleted because their language about Cardinal Mahony was so hostile. Two whose language was more temperate I now think I could have published; they did question the Cardinal's account of his being attacked outside the Cathedral.
I hope those commenters will keep coming back here to offer their comments on all the topics we discuss.
Catholic blogdom and news sites elsewhere have published posts and comments about the Cardinal's account of being attacked, and you can see an example by clicking on this post's title.
What is going on, it seems, is that when someone, especially a public figure, offers an account of events that seems puzzling, the hearers cannot help being puzzled. They are going to wonder about the account.
That does not have to entail a lack of charity, a lack of sympathy, for the person who offered the account -- only a desire to know the whole story.
The Cardinal's account, after all, has ramifications for the whole Archdiocese and the whole Church. God forbid, will anti-Catholics and maniacs now think they can attack other members of our hierarchy and clergy, as well as our churches and our congregations, without being reported to the police?
Shouldn't the Cardinal cooperate with the LAPD? And of course, you and I obviously need to pray for the safety of every one of our shepherds, pastors, congregations and churches. What do you have to say?
Two comments, though, as I've already mentioned, I somehow accidentally deleted -- one on the Latin Mass.
A few other comments I deleted because their language about Cardinal Mahony was so hostile. Two whose language was more temperate I now think I could have published; they did question the Cardinal's account of his being attacked outside the Cathedral.
I hope those commenters will keep coming back here to offer their comments on all the topics we discuss.
Catholic blogdom and news sites elsewhere have published posts and comments about the Cardinal's account of being attacked, and you can see an example by clicking on this post's title.
What is going on, it seems, is that when someone, especially a public figure, offers an account of events that seems puzzling, the hearers cannot help being puzzled. They are going to wonder about the account.
That does not have to entail a lack of charity, a lack of sympathy, for the person who offered the account -- only a desire to know the whole story.
The Cardinal's account, after all, has ramifications for the whole Archdiocese and the whole Church. God forbid, will anti-Catholics and maniacs now think they can attack other members of our hierarchy and clergy, as well as our churches and our congregations, without being reported to the police?
Shouldn't the Cardinal cooperate with the LAPD? And of course, you and I obviously need to pray for the safety of every one of our shepherds, pastors, congregations and churches. What do you have to say?
posted by Quintero at 4:11 PM
6 Comments:
We definately need to pray for the saftey of our hierarchy that's for sure. Even though the "Cardinal" gets much of my wrath (and derservedly so of course), even he does not deserve to have this happen to him. This attack that happened to him is not karma or a coincidence (as we as Catholics do not believe in such a thing). It just goes to show you that everyone is vunerable. He should definately cooperate with the LAPD with this manner. He calls it a cross to bear (Although I think he has been more crucified by everything that people have had to say about him (Not saying that what we're saying about the "Cardinal" is wrong, because it's not, but what I am saying is that he has much bigger crosses to bear besides this)). Even though he may not be doing the best job, we can definately still pray for him.
I must admit to seriously doubting whether this alleged assault actually happened, and to having not believed it from the get-go. First of all, based on past history, the source of this account just does not inspire confidence. Secondly, I really can't picture this cardinal going to the mailbox himself. Thirdly, it's hard to believe a prominent personage like the cardinal archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles could be out of commission for several weeks without anybody noticing. Fourthly, this story materializes at a time when the archdiocese is raising hackles over moves like evicting the Sisters of Bethany and then trying to convince the faithful that "we're all paying" for the sex abuse scandal; the timing and circumstances of this assault claim just seem extremely self-serving. Fifthly, the refusal to report the alleged incident to the police is frankly more consistent with the incident having never happened than it is with charity: true charity would seem to direct itself to the perp's potential next victims, and move the cardinal to report the incident so the perp can be taken off the streets.
In short, I don't buy the story.
I find it odd that the information on his beating was "leaked" on the same day that Michael Baker's conviction hit the front page..the four priests who leaked it had known for a month....well timed?
I find it interesting that the information about the beating was "leaked" on the day that Michael Baker's conviction hit the front page of the Times. Was that planned?
I was not at the priests' assembly during which the Cardinal disclosed the assault against him. Priests who told me about it said that Cardinal Mahony said that he had determined beforehand that, if anything like a physical attack ever happened to him, it would not make it a public matter, including not filing a crime report. His point, according the priests who were there, was that the victims of clergy sex abuse suffered far worse and, if something physical were to happen to him, he would bear it in solidarity with the victims.
I was contacted by the reporter who wrote the Daily News story who assured me that the timing of the leak was coincidental. The Cardinal, true to his word, has not spoken publicly about it at all.
Reverend and Dear Father (Anonymous 9:40 a.m.),
Thank you for relaying what you've heard. And thank you for being a priest. God bless you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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