The more the Catholic hierarchy changes, the more it stays the same.

[No Elephants]

OS ANGELES (AP) -- Retired Cardinal Roger Mahony, the former head of the nation's largest Roman Catholic diocese, was stripped of his duties Thursday by his successor as the Los Angeles archdiocese released thousands of pages of personnel files of priests accused of child molestation.

"I find these files to be brutal and painful reading," Archbishop Jose Gomez said in a statement, referring to the newly released files made public by the church Thursday night just hours after a judge's order. "The behavior described in these files is terribly sad and evil. There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children."

Gomez announced that he has "informed Cardinal Mahony that he will no longer have any administrative or public duties."

The archbishop also said Monsignor Thomas Curry, former vicar for clergy who was Mahony's point person for dealing with priests accused of molestation, has stepped down from his post as head of the diocese's Santa Barbara region.

Even though Mahoney is already retired, the above sounds great, right? BUT,

Mahoney has been convicted of covering up child abuse and release of the papers was court-ordered.

AND

The archdiocese, the nation's largest, had planned to black out the names of members of the church hierarchy who were responsible for the priests, and instead provide a cover sheet for each priest's file, listing the names of top officials who handled that case. The church reversed course Wednesday after The Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times and plaintiff attorneys objected in court.

A record-breaking $660 million settlement in 2007 with more than 500 alleged victims paved the way for the ultimate disclosure of the tens of thousands of pages, but the archdiocese and individual priests fought to keep them secret for more than five years.

The files, some of them dating back decades, contain letters among top church officials, accused priests and archdiocese attorneys, complaints from parents, medical and psychological records and - in some cases - correspondence with the Vatican.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CALIFORNIA_CHURCH_ABUSE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-02-01-01-32-01

So, whatever they can try to keep secret, they are still trying their best to keep secret. After all, why publicly besmirch the names and memories of child molesters? And Cardinal Mahoney, though convicted, has not been de-frocked. So, he can vote for the next pope, just as Cardinal Law, who got a promotion to the Vatican for his role in the Boston crimes, voted for aidor and abettor Bennie.

Meet the new Archbishop. Same as the old Archbishop, only with fresher crocodile tears.


And then, there's the Vatican. Pope John, Pope Benny, who used to handle this stuff under John's watch, Cardinal Law.

Will anyone ever arrest Benny?

[Enthusiast]

1. I have the beginning signs of outrage fatigue.

Seriously. A $660 million settlement? Unreal.

[formercia]

2. Ramen

I was almost molested by a Monsignor once.

He tried to get me drunk on Altar Wine.

[No Elephants]

3. Are you joking or are you serious? (I can't tell.)

Don't get the reference to ramen in this context, either.

[formercia]

4. That's why I'm a Pastafarian

...and, yes, it did happen when I was 9 years old.

What reason would a priest have to ply a 9 year old with Wine, other than an intent to molest?

You're probably confused by now, but I was raised Catholic, although my ancestors were Jewish. They became Catholics to survive the Holy Inquisition and escaped LaRochelle France in the 17th Century and came to New France. I tracked down one of my distant relatives who was a Bookbinder in Israel and he told me the story. His Mother had continued to pass down the traditions. It was quite a surprise to me, but I found the Web Site of the town of LaRochelle in France and they had my family name listed as one of the Jewish families that had gone there to escape prosecution from the Inquisition. La Rochelle was the last bastion of the Knights Templar, who protected Jews and Hugenots (French Protestants) from the 'Church.' I hate to think what happened to my relatives that weren't able to escape. The town was eventually captured by the French Catholic forces in the late 17th Century.

Another example of Genocide perpetrated by the Church in the name of God.

So, yeah, I do have a bias when it comes to religion.

[Enthusiast]

5. What an interesting story, formercia!

The church was up front about Jewish persecution during the Inquisition.

Torquemada was the worst name associated with the Inquisition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom%C3%A1s_de_Torquemada

If I understand it correctly they often tortured until the victim admitted they were a Jew in which case they were mercifully executed (If burning at the stake can be considered merciful). Or, sometimes after suffering the pains of torture some non-Jews would admit to being Jews or heretics just to stop the pain, in which case they were summarily executed.

And the POPE was infallible! Never forget that.

So how much credibility does the Catholic Church have? Absolutely zero.

I've been touched by his noodley appendage.

[No Elephants]

6. No, I cannot think of another reason.

I wonder why he didn't go through with it?

Well, your forebears escaped the Inquisition and you escaped that turd.

Good for all of you.