A 32-year old man says he suffered at the hands of an abusive priest and he is now taking legal action against the Los Angeles Archdiocese as a result. Many other victims have filed similar suits involving claims of abusive priests.

The victim says that Cardinal Roger Mahony is responsible as well as one ex-priest who was allowed to return to his parish duties even after that priest had admitted to previous molestation. The victim argues that abusive priests should not be allowed to come in contact with younger children or installed in leadership positions after it’s known that the person has been involved in abuse.

Many of the boys who allegedly suffered at the hands of abusive priests were immigrants, according to the lawsuit. After abuse claims were reported the first time with Father Michael Baker, he was reassigned to several other Roman Catholic parishes where he allegedly continued abusing young boys.

Even though other lawsuits related to the Roman Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal are on the horizon and have already been filed affecting Catholic Church Archdiocese in California, this is the first one in which Father Mahony was accused. Mahony was the one who transferred Baker to other leadership and church positions.

So far, Baker has been accused of molesting as many as 23 boys during his time in the priesthood. He was sentenced to ten years in prison after being convicted or abusing two boys in 2007.

The man who brought the lawsuit filed under the name John Doe to protect his identity. The paperwork filed with that suit explains that he claims to have been abused multiple times between the ages of six and ten while attending St. Columbkille Church. The victim says this abuse happened between 1993 and 1997, but Baker had already admitted to Mahony back in 1986 that he had molested two boys.

The victim argues that the Catholic Church leadership fell short since they knew that Baker had a past filled with abuse but allowed him to continue on anyways. Mahony was responsible for the nation’s biggest diocese, but the Baker case led to Mahony’s retirement.

His retirement came about after thousands of documents were released indicating that Mahony was well aware of abuse happening and failed to take corrective action. Baker said after his 1986 confession that Mahony did not ask for further details about the names of victims who might have suffered.

Did the Church Take Any Action?

According to Mahony, Baker was not allowed to be left alone with a child as a result of these admissions, but the lawsuit filed by the most recent victim argues that this happened on at least three occasions in which personnel affiliated with the archdiocese were near. Baker was only defrocked in 2000. A few years later, the truth came out that the archdiocese had quietly paid out $1 million to Baker’s known victims at that time.

Can Victims File a Lawsuit?

If you or someone you know tried to report abusive priests and was unsuccessful in your efforts to protect yourself, filing a lawsuit might be the best option given that California has recently opened a window for decades-old abuse cases to be heard.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.