The Santa Barbara Independent: Priests Prey, Sisters Pay:
Nuns to Be Evicted: It’s “wrong,” Sister Angela believes, for the small Eastside convent where she’s lived since 1964 to be sold to help pay for the sins of priests accused of molesting children. Sisters of Bethany have been serving the low-income neighborhood since the 1950s, but now must leave due to church scandals within the L.A. Archdiocese. “What hurts so much is what they want to use [the sale proceeds] for,” Sister Superior Angela, 69, told me. “In conscience, I can’t say that’s right.”
Cardinal Mahoney makes it hard to be a good Catholic. As good Catholics we want to follow the lead of our bishops. But why does he do so many decisions that appear so wrong? How do you sell a convent when you have that prison styled “cathedral” that cost about $190,000,000?
And do you know what the diocesan paper “The Tidings” headlined with this week? Celebrating 5 years of the Rog Mahal. They called the “Cathedral” an awe-filled space. Awful space is more like it.
What an absolutely horrible, horrible steward. He has closed the beautiful old Cathedral. Closed two seminaries. Has protected pedophiles (and his own legal behind). Given us a monstrosity, and then has the gall to sing its praises while he evicts nuns who actually do real ministry.
Is there anyone else who finds this sickening? As followers of Christ we are to act with justice and mercy. Cardinal, how are you doing this? How is this just? How is this merciful? You have stained and sullied the long and honorable history of the diocese of Los Angeles. Sell the monstrosity of a Cathedral. Move into one of the local parishes (maybe one that needs a priest), and save these nuns!
In the meantime, if anyone knows where I can make a contribution to help these nuns, please leave it in my com box!
