Coalition Forms to Challenge Cardinal

Coalition Forms to Challenge Cardinal

Yahoo! [Los Angeles CA]
November 21, 2005

WHEN:	Tuesday, November 22, 2005
TIME:	11:30 a.m.
WHERE:	Archdiocese of Los Angeles 3424 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90010-2202 213 637 7000
WHO:	Representatives from three different groups, Anchorhold Affiliate of Voice of the Faithful, Stones of Silence and Survivors of Silence will gather at the Archdiocese office TO DELIVER A LETTER TO Cardinal Roger Mahony.
WHY:	These groups have come together to ask the Cardinal to respond to a number of important issues relating to the clergy sexual abuse cases here in Los Angeles.

The recent incident involving survivors being physically bullied outside of a local Catholic Church has brought these representatives together asking the Cardinal to direct all Archdiocese Churches to openly decry the recent violence against victims and supporters of clergy sexual abuse.

See attached letter
November 22, 2005
His Eminence Roger Cardinal Mahony

As members of the local Catholic Community we respectfully request that you provide the following information to the "People of God" in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. In order to facilitate your response we have formulated some simple yes or no questions that we feel need to be answered.

Will you investigate and make public your findings concerning the incident of Oct 26, 2005 at St. Rose of Lima Church in Maywood that involved people coming out of the Church to push, hit and bully a small group of people that included some survivors of clergy sexual abuse?

    YES __________________                            NO_________________

Will you issue a Pastoral Letter insisting that each pastor and priest of the Archdiocese inform their parish members that there is to be NO VIOLENCE, NO BULLYING, NO NAME CALLING, NO SPITTING when ANY ONE, especially survivors and supporters, are leafleting to enlighten Catholics about the horrible scandal of clergy sexual abuse of our children.?

    YES __________________                            NO_________________

Will you provide all parishes with the names and dates of service of alleged abusers who served in each parish and instruct each pastor to encourage discussion and invite others who may have been abused to come forward?

    YES __________________                            NO_________________

Do you feel that the recent legal settlement ($120 fine, 30 days of community service and 3yr. banishment (300 yards = 3 football fields) from the Cathedral or your presence) for the survivor who stood silently handcuffed to the Cathedral during Mass and then willingly provided the key to remove the handcuffs is in keeping with the churches social justice practices?

    YES __________________                            NO_________________

Do you think that your decision to ignore the above survivor during and immediately following the Mass is consistent with the teachings of Jesus Christ?

    YES __________________                            NO_________________

Will you provide the Archdiocese Catholic community with a complete reporting of the expenses to date that the Archdiocese has paid out for representation by attorneys and public relations firms related to the clergy sexual abuse here in the L.A. Archdiocese since 2002?

    YES __________________                            NO_________________

Finally, will you ask your attorneys to withdraw their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court of the ruling that the Archdiocese had to surrender the priests files to the District Attorney in Los Angeles, allowing true transparency to lead to healing.

    YES __________________                            NO_________________

    Anchorhold         Stones of Silence           Survivor of Silence

    Mary Jane McGraw        Mary Pitcher                Udo Strutinsky

Survivors of Silence
Source: Anchorhold Affiliate of Voice of the Faithful; Stones of Silence;