Feds May Indict LA Cardinal on Coverup Charges

Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles may become the first US Catholic leader indicted over the church's pedophile priest scandal, reports Philip Shenon in the Daily Beast. The Justice Department is considering charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury against Mahony, 74.

Prosecutors suspect Mahony tried to cover up the scandal in his archdiocese and are focusing on a series of emails between him and his lawyers on how to avoid turning over the names of abusive priests, writes Shenon. Victims groups want the feds to move before Mahony retires in February in case he then relocates to the legal safe haven of the Vatican.
(More Cardinal Roger M. Mahony stories.)