Home // February 18-22 2013 > Petition to block retired LA cardinal from conclave

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Petition to block retired LA cardinal from conclave

Published: February 18, 2013

An association of US Catholics has launched a petition to keep a retired Los Angeles cardinal stripped of public duties from taking part in the conclave that will choose the next pope, AFP reports in the Herald Sun.

The group, Catholics United, is targeting Cardinal Roger Mahony, who last month was relieved of all church administrative and public duties for mishandling abuse claims against dozens of priests, dating back to the 1980s.

"Cardinal Mahony: Stay Home," the online petition reads.

Mahony was stripped of his duties by his successor, Archbishop Jose Gomez, who took over for him in 2011.

"If a Cardinal is stripped of public ministry in his diocese, why should he be rewarded with being allowed to vote for the next pope?" the group asked.

According to Catholics United, Gomez is in favor of Mahony's attending the conclave that will choose a successor to Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned unexpectedly last week.

Mahony, who is now 76, took part in the vote that chose Joseph Ratzinger as pontiff in 2005. He is theoretically still a member of the conclave made up of 117 cardinals aged under 80 who will meet behind closed doors in the Sistine Chapel until a new pope is chosen.

FULL STORY Push to block retired LA cardinal from conclave (Herald Sun)

 

 

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Recent Comments

  1. I don't think anything in the world would keep him from attending.
    He is truly deluded in thinking what he is doing and has done is right in the eyes of God.
    He is completely oblivious to the scandal he has caused.
    And if he is not, God help him.

    Posted By: Stella

  2. Cardinal Mahony needs to think first of the Church for once and voluntarily not vote.

    Posted By: Mr and Mrs Robin Rudd

  3. I'm sure many of the Cardinals have sin in their life as we all do.
    Yes, Cardinal Mahony made some serious mistakes but I don't see how that disqualifies him to be a voting cardinal; he's still in good standing with the church.
    Although I consider myself conservative and the Cardinal is clearly liberal, I still believe he has the right to vote.

    Posted By: Carol

  4. In the integrity scale, there's probably not much daylight between Card Mahony and the Vatican insiders: Cards Somalo, Sodano (the dean of the College) and Dziwisz (JP II's former secretary) all of whom, according to Jason Berry, were close to Marcial Marciel.

    Posted By: David Timbs

  5. I agree that Card Mahony should voluntarily decline to vote at the Conclave.
    I think that this would be a humble display of contrition.
    Card Bernard Law should have done the same thing in 2005, but few seemed to notice.

    Posted By: Neil

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