- Title: USA: Victim hopes new pope acknowledges abuse
- Date: 14th March 2013
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (MARCH 14, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MICHAEL DURAN, CATHOLIC CHURCH ALLEGED VICTIM, TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL DURAN, CATHOLIC CHURCH ALLEGED VICTIM SAYING: "(Cardinal) Roger Mahony back in 1986 knew about me, yet he made the calculated decision to not look for me, to not find me, to get me the help that I needed back them. Instead he protected himself and the church." DURAN AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL DURAN, CATHOLIC CHURCH ALLEGED VICTIM SAYING: "For me, there is really no significance regarding the new pope because my faith in the Catholic church has been destroyed. But for the millions who still believe in the church, I wish them the best and I hope that their new pope and Archbishop Gomez here in Los Angeles not only publicly admonish those that are responsible for me and the other victims, but actually take some real steps in protecting boys and girls around the world." DURAN TALKING TO MEDIA
- Embargoed: 29th March 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Crime,Politics,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA18WVRRJDWD0X02871OJ6YLUR7
- Story Text: Michael Duran, one of the four plaintiffs in a now settled lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, spoke to media saying he hopes the new pope will recognize abuse victims.
Abuse victim Michael Duran, one of the four plaintiffs in a now settled lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, spoke to the media on Thursday (March 14), saying that he hopes newly appointed Pope Francis recognizes abuse victims like himself.
"For me, there is really no significance regarding the new pope because my faith in the Catholic church has been destroyed. But for the millions who still believe in the church, I wish them the best and I hope that their new pope and Archbishop Gomez here in Los Angeles not only publicly admonish those that are responsible for me and the other victims, but actually take some real steps in protecting boys and girls around the world."
The Church, along with its former leader Cardinal Roger Mahony and an ex-priest, agreed to pay nearly 10 million dollars to settle the case.
Mahony, who retired in 2011 as head of the largest U.S. archdiocese, was accused of helping a confessed pedophile priest, Michael Baker, evade law enforcement by sending him out of state to a church-run treatment center, then placing the priest back in the Los Angeles ministry.
Baker was ultimately convicted and sent to prison on 12 criminal counts of felony oral copulation with a minor involving two boys who reached a previous settlement with the church.
As part of the current settlement, approved by a Los Angeles judge earlier this month, none of the parties admitted wrongdoing. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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