Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Cath. Group Launches Petition Against Mahony; Demand Disgraced Card. Forgo Vatican Conclave

A U.S. Catholic group has launched an online petition to keep a cardinal linked to a sex abuse scandal from attending the Vatican conclave that will select a new pope next month, the Reuters website reports today (February 20, 2013).

Catholics United -- a non-profit and non-partisan organization -- says that former Los Angeles Archbishop Roger Mahony should refrain from attending the papal conclave and recuse himself from voting. The petition -- launched last week -- had more than 5,000 signatures as of yesterday, representing a tiny fraction of the roughly one in four Americans who are Catholics.

"Please do not bring further scandal to our Church that has already been rocked by the sex abuse crisis by attending the Papal Conclave. You have been disciplined and you have lost your ability to have a voice within our Church," said the petition from the Washington-based group.

Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez stripped Mahony, 76, of his duties last month due to his shielding a multitude of sexually-abusive priests.

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