ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ URGES PRAYERS FOR CARDINAL MAHONY
February 15, 2013  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

Archbishop Jose H. Gomez invited all clergy and faithful in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to pray for Cardinal Roger Mahony as he prepares to leave for Rome to elect a new pope to replace Pope Benedict XVI, who announced Monday that he will retire at the end of February.

In a letter sent to all priests in the Archdiocese Feb. 15, Archbishop Gomez also expressed confidence that “Cardinal Mahony’s accomplishments and experience in the areas of immigration, social justice, sacred liturgy, and the role of the laity in the Church will serve the College of Cardinals well as it works to discern the will of the Holy Spirit in these deliberations that will lead to the election of our new Pope.”

Archbishop Gomez also repeated his previous public comments in which he sought to clarify “confusion in some media” reports about the status of Cardinal Mahony and Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Curry.

Both Cardinal Mahony and Bishop Curry “remain bishops in good standing in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Both have full rights to celebrate the Holy Sacraments of the Church and to minister to the faithful without restriction,” said Archbishop Gomez.

He added, “Having been promoted to the dignity of Cardinal, Cardinal Mahony has all of the prerogatives and privileges of his standing as a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.”

NOTE: A COPY OF THE LETTER FROM ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ TO PRIESTS OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES IS ATTACHED VIA THIS LINK: Letter PDF.

 

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