Cardinal shielded from abuse victim
A MAN allegedly abused by a priest when an altar boy has been ordered to stay at least 100 yards from Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony for the next three years.
Michael Patrick Falls, 35, told a worker at a local hospital in March that he had psychiatric problems and wanted to assassinate Cardinal Mahony.
During Easter week, a temporary restraining order was issued against Falls, who did not contest this week's permanent order.
Falls and eight other former altar boys unsuccessfully sued the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and Fr Ted Llanos, alleging the priest had molested at least 26 boys since 1973. Llanos was removed from ministry by the archdiocese and later committed suicide.
Cardinal Mahony met his victims after allegations surfaced in 1994. The Archdiocese paid for victims' therapy but stopped when they filed a lawsuit.
In February, California state's supreme court rejected a consolidated civil lawsuit against the Archdiocese saying the statute of limitations had expired. Previous municipal, superior and appellate cases against Llanos were dismissed for the same reason.—NCR