Disgraced US cardinal shamed in Catholic child abuse scandal awarded honour of closing Pope Francis’s coffin
AN AMERICAN cardinal who was disgraced for his role in covering up shocking child abuse will preside over the closing of Pope Francis’ coffin.
Roger Mahony, 89, was stripped of all his administrative and public duties in 2013 over his handling of the abuse scandal.
Yet he is listed among the 15 figures who have been granted the honour of closing the late pontiff’s coffin tomorrow.
Cardinal Mahony was disgraced after the LA archdiocese released 12,000 pages of documents on priests accused of child molestation.
He had helped to shield accused priests from investigation back in the 1980s, papers unsealed as part of a civil case showed.
At the time, Mahoney’s successor Archbishop Jose Gomez said: “I find these files to be brutal and painful reading.
“The behaviour described in these files is terribly sad and evil.
“There is no excuse, no explaining away what happened to these children.
“The priests involved had the duty to be their spiritual fathers and they failed.”
Cardinal Mahony retired in 2011 after running the archdiocese for 25 years.
But he is now named in a Vatican bulletin as one of the individuals “requested” to take part in the closing of Pope Francis‘ coffin.
This ceremony will happen tomorrow evening ahead of the pope’s funeral on Saturday.
The Catholic Church under successive popes has been accused of failing victims of child sex abuse.
David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, previously blasted the Church’s handling of the scandal.
He said: “When Cardinal Mahony had real power, and abused it horribly, he should have been demoted or disciplined by the Church hierarchy, in Rome and in the US.
“But not a single Catholic cleric anywhere had the courage to even denounce him. Shame on them.”
Members of the College of Cardinals are making their way to the Vatican ahead of the forthcoming conclave – the process that elects the new pope.
There are currently 252 cardinals, but only the 135 under the age of 80 are eligible to vote.
Another cardinal who was convicted of financial crimes is seeking the right to take part in the conclave.
Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu was ordered in 2020 to resign the “rights and privileges” of a cardinal by Pope Francis.
He maintains his innocence, and is still allowed to live in a Vatican apartment pending an appeal.
Cardinal Becciu claims he can still take part in a conclave despite being listed as a “non-elector”, according to CNN reports.
Father Patrick Briscoe, editor of Our Sunday Visitor Catholic magazine, said of Cardinal Mahony’s involvement: “To take part in the solemn rite of closing a pope’s casket is no small thing.
“It’s a deeply symbolic act that speaks volumes about the life of the Church.
“For many of the faithful — especially those who have carried the wounds of the abuse crisis — seeing Cardinal Mahoney in such a role is deeply unsettling.
“It risks sending the message that the Church has not fully grasped the gravity of its failures or the need for continued reform and healing.
“The irony is striking, given that Pope Francis has consistently spoken out against clericalism and the mishandling of abuse cases, though he has not been without his critics.
“Cardinal Mahony’s inclusion in this liturgy appears at odds with the values and priorities the late pope sought to uphold.”
At the closing of the coffin ceremony, each of the three ‘orders’ of the College of Cardinals have to be present – priest, bishop and deacon.
Mahony was selected according to the seniority of his order as a Cardinal Priest, the Vatican said.
Pope Francis died on Monday just hours after his final public appearance on Easter Sunday.
He was elected in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
His funeral is will be held on Saturday in front of St Peter’s Basilica.