Cardinal Mahony to be deposed in abuse lawsuit

Associated Press
Feb. 15, 2013

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cardinal Roger Mahony, the former Roman Catholic archbishop of Los Angeles, will be deposed this month for a clergy abuse lawsuit set for trial in April.

A lawyer representing a person claiming abuse by a priest said Friday that an agreement will allow him to question Mahony about his handling of the case on Feb. 23, before the cardinal leaves for Rome to help select a new pope.

Attorney Anthony De Marco says he can also ask questions about up to 25 other priests accused of child molestation. Recently released files show that Mahony and other archdiocese officials maneuvered behind the scenes to protect the church from scandal.

Mahony has apologized for those actions and contends he turned the archdiocese into a leader in terms of safeguarding children.