Cardinal Roger Mahony targeted in sexual abuse lawsuit

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On Tuesday April 20, a legal group that represents sexual abuse victims filed a lawsuit accusing Cardinal Roger Mahoney and Mexican Cardinal Noberto Rivera of aiding and abetting systematic sexual abuse. The lawsuit stems from a scandal involving a fugitive Mexican priest.

The Catholic church is facing yet another legal attack for its role in covering up sexual abuse. On Tuesday April 20, a legal group that represents sexual abuse victims filed a lawsuit accusing Cardinal Roger Mahoney and Mexican Cardinal Noberto Rivera of aiding and abetting systematic sexual abuse. The lawsuit stems from a scandal involving a fugitive Mexican priest.

Father Nicolas Aguilar Rivera is wanted on charges of raping at least 26 Los Angeles boys and an unknown number of Mexican children during his years as a priest. Cardinal Mahoney was unaware of the priest’s pedophilia when he came to Los Angeles. But the victim's lawyers say Aguilar Rivera told the diocese of his intention to flee the country after he was charged for sex crimes. Once in Mexico, he continued to abuse children and remains at large today.

Timothy Beck Werth has more.

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