What should happen to Mahony?

In the wake of the record breaking sexual abuse settlement by the R.C. Archdiocese of Los Angeles, many people are calling for the resignation of Cardinal Mahony.

See for example here, here, here , here ,and here.

When disgraced Archbishop Bernard Law resigned from the Diocese of Boston he was rewarded with a post presiding over the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Not exactly a stinging reprimand.

It is true that Mahony shouldn’t be allowed to remain in charge in Los Angeles; he has lost whatever credibility and moral authority he had. But as far as I am concerned, Mahony shouldn’t resign: he should face acriminal investigation.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley issued a statement indicating that may be a possibility:.

“Today’s massive civil settlement highlights the institutional moral failure of the archdiocese to supervise predatory priests who operated for years under its jurisdiction…”

But I am not holding my breath…