I Knew There Was Something About Him I Liked

I had totally forgotten how he had spoken out in opposition to Hillary's appearance at Catholic U. & he has much better over all pro-life credentials than Mahony ever had, or cared to have. Thinks are looking better & better for a huge change of direction in LA.

Pope Appoints Pro-Life Bishop to Replace Los Angeles Bishop Mahoney

Editorial by John-Henry Westen and Steve Jalsevac
Los Angeles, April 1, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A monumental shift is coming to Los Angeles in the near future as Pope Benedict XVI has announced pro-life Archbishop Jose Gomez the coadjutor bishop to take over from far-left Cardinal Roger Mahony when he steps down – likely around February 27, 2011, when he reaches retirement age at 75.
The difference between the two men can be seen clearly in matters pertaining to abortion, as the following examples illustrate.
In 2005, while Cardinal Mahony was holding an inauguration for a pro-abortion mayor in the Cathedral, young pro -life Catholics who were prayerfully protesting outside the Cathedral were removed and threatened with arrest by Cathedral security.
In 2008, however, as archbishop of San Antonio Texas, Gomez objected to the appearance of pro-abortion Senator Hilary Clinton at a Catholic University. He recalled that an official 2004 document of the U.S. bishops says, “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” Gomez added: "Our Catholic institutions must promote the clear understanding of our deep moral convictions on an issue like abortion, an act that the Church calls 'an unspeakable crime' and a non-negotiable issue."
In addition, Archbishop Gomez – ordained as an Opus Dei priest - praised South Bend Bishop John D’Arcy for his refusal to attend the 2009 commencement ceremonies at Notre Dame because of the university’s decision to give an honorary degree to pro-abortion President Barack Obama, and to have him speak.
Archbishop Gomez and his auxiliary bishop wrote: "President Obama has made it clear that his policies on abortion and the general protection of innocent life are in dramatic opposition to the teachings of the Catholic Church."
"At this critical time we cannot afford to send an ambiguous message to the leaders of our people." (To view the letter click here)
Beyond the massive sex abuse cover-up scandal associated with Mahony, the Los Angeles cardinal also riled the faithful with his pandering to homosexual activists. While other cardinals and bishops were denouncing Rainbow Sash activists who would disrupt masses by wearing rainbow sashes to protest the Church’s stand on homosexuality and then present themselves for communion, Cardinal Mahoney welcomed them.

In a 2004 press release, the Rainbow Sash Movement praised Mohany along with Archbishop Harry Flynn (Minneapolis/St Paul, MN), Bishop Matthew Clark (Rochester, NY) and Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton (Detroit) as being US bishops who have been especially welcoming to them.

In 2003, former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, who was appointed by the US bishops to head the National Review Board investigating sexual abuse allegations in dioceses throughout the nation, resigned from the board because of the refusal of some bishops to cooperate with his investigations. Mahony was prominent among the obfuscating bishops named by Keating.

Mahony has a history of placing the life issues at a distant second to other "social justice" concerns such as immigration. After the recent passage of the Democrat's intensely opposed health care bill, the Los Angeles Cardinal welcomed passage of the legislation contrary to the condemnation of the bill from the USCCB and many of his brother bishops throughout the United States.

The Cardinal also has a lengthy history of welcoming or doing nothing about many speakers invited to Catholic sponsored events in the diocese who local critics say "defy the Church on abortion, homosexuality, contraception, New Age practices and ordination of women."

The giant, annual Religious Education Congress exposes some 40,000 teachers to numerous such speakers with the Cardinal participating in blatantly New Age types of liturgies which prominently include sensuous male and female dancers. Numerous complaints from faithful Catholics regarding the anti-Catholic aspects of these speakers and events have been routinely ignored by Mahony every year.
While Mahoney seems to have embraced all things modernist, as the $180 million dollar modernist Cathedral dubbed the “Taj Mahoney” attests, Archbishop Gomez has praised Pope Benedict’s rejuvenation of the Traditional Latin Mass.
Given that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is by far the largest diocese in the United States, with more than five million members (70% of which are Hispanic) Archbishop Gomez, who was born in Monterrey Mexico, is a good fit.