Timeline: Priest Sex Abuse Scandal In Los Angeles Archdiocese
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Archbishop Jose Gomez (prayitno/Flickr)
Here’s how the scandal unfolded:
2007-2012
The Archdiocese had to pay $660 million to settle more than 500 cases of alleged abuse by Catholic priests. It was the largest payout by the Catholic Church in the country.
For five years, more than 20 accused priests have resisted the release of abuse records on the grounds that making such documents public would constitute a violation of their privacy rights.
KPCC reported that Judge Emilie Elias had ordered the release of files containing letters, psychological and medical records, and official church correspondence relating to the cases of sexual abuse.
Confidential records from the files of 14 accused priests were made public on January 21. The documents revealed the church’s handling of abuse allegations, particularly the role of Cardinal Roger Mahony and other top catholic officials in conspiring to cover up allegations of abuse from the police and working to protect the problem priests rather than victims.
Jan. 31, 2013
Tens of thousands more files were posted by the Church on its website, as part of the 2007 settlement agreement. The files can be accessed here: http://clergyfiles.la-archdiocese.org/
Feb. 1, 2013
In conjunction with the release of the files, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez released a statement on February 1 announcing that Mahony would be removed from any administrative and public duties. Gomez also accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry, one of Mahony’s top former advisors.
Mahony issued a public statement apologizing for his mistakes on his blog.
Feb. 5, 2013
The LA Times reported that Los Angeles Police Department detectives would review the recently released files for evidence of criminal activity, such as failure to report child abuse, that can be prosecuted.
Reach Staff Reporter Natasha Pesaran here
