Off the Record

the perfect prelate By Diogenes | September 21, 2009 2:46 PM

 Cardinal Mahony may be in a spot of trouble for failing to report a sex-abuse complaint against a priest with a past, but loyal staff members are rallying to his aid. The AP story relates:

Calls after business hours to two archdiocese attorneys and archdiocese spokesman Tod Tamberg were not immediately returned. However, in the deposition transcript, archdiocese attorney Don Woods said that because the two alleged victims were adults when they filed their claim, Mahony was not obligated to report it to the police and did no wrong.

The cardinal failed to inform police about a crime, and failed to warn parishioners about a danger. More than that: according to the sworn testimony of his subordinate, he forbade his staff to warn anyone. Yet he "did not wrong?"

That's the reporter's phrase, admittedly, but notice the moral standards now set for Catholic prelates. If their actions did not violate any criminal statutes, nothing more can be expected.

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• Posted by: John J Plick - Sep. 21, 2009 10:00 PM ET USA

  Beyond comment, Diogenes..., beyond comment... One can eventually learn to pity them and fear for their judgment...