Los Angeles, Calif., Mar 19, 2009 / 01:17 am
Archbishop of Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony on Tuesday testified at a civil trial concerning a clergy sexual abuse case in the Diocese of Fresno. He told jurors he did not recall any allegations of sexual abuse during his time as an official there, and that if someone was aware of it occurring it should have been reported immediately.
Cardinal Mahony was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fresno in 1962 and became its auxiliary bishop in 1975.
Two brothers, George and Howard Santillan, allege that they were molested by a parish priest in the town of Wasco between 1959 and 1973. They also allege in the lawsuit that the diocese failed to protect the children from abuse and failed to address it, the Los Angeles Times reports.
George Santillan is now a 59-year-old retiree living in Arizona. He watched the three-hour deposition from the audience.