Los Angeles Fire Department Settles Sexual Harassment & Retaliation Case

The Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a finding today that found that the Los Angeles Fire Department violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when it failed to properly address firefighter Anthony Almeida’s complaints of harassment and retaliation. Almeida, with the assistance of attorneys from Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, reached a… read more

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Pedophile Priest, Father Alejandro “Alex” Jose Castillo, Pleads Not Guilty to Eight Counts of Felony Sex Crimes in Criminal Sexual Abuse Case.

Father Alejandro “Alex” Castillo, of the Diocese of San Bernardino, has been arrested after being charged with eight counts of felony sex crimes against a child under age 14. The alleged childhood sexual abuse by Fr. Castillo occurred in California in 2008, while Castillo was a pastor at an Ontario parish. It is suspected there… read more

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Archdiocese’ Cover-up Devastates Young Lives

Not only did Cardinal Roger Mahony know of Father Baker’s colorful past, but he also kept his knowledge a secret and continued to reassign Baker to various ministry positions, despite recent allegations of abuse. Mahony’s knowledge and mishandling were highlighted after the deposition of Msgr. Loomis and the paper trail that was leaked. Since coming… read more

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Cardinal Mahony Deposed to Answer Questions Relating to His Knowledge of Sexual Abuse within the Church

Cardinal Roger Mahony was deposed for several hours to gather information regarding the childhood sexual abuse that has occurred in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, focusing in particular on Father Michael Baker, Father Baker’s abuse of three parishioners, and the attempts made to keep pertinent information secret. Father Baker, who is now serving a sentence… read more

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New Testimony Sheds Light on Abuse Cover-ups by Mahony

Mahony ordered church officials to delay reporting sex abuse to police until the abusive priest could be defrocked, according to Monsignor Loomis, a former high-ranking official within the Catholic Church. Msgr. Loomis’ testimony was well received by Attorney John C. Manly and his client, Luis C. But the testimony also wasn’t surprising. The abuser in… read more

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Mahony Under Investigation; Convicted Sex Offender Asked to Testify

Cardinal Roger Mahony is being investigated for his actions regarding the sexual abuse of parishioners of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. This investigation is focused on the procedures and methods used, by Mahony and other leaders of the Catholic Church, in dealing with allegations of abuse and abusive priests. According to Father Baker, a recently convicted… read more

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Lawsuit Alleges that Mahony Failed to Properly Respond to Sexual Abuse Claims

Attorneys from Manly, Stewart & Finaldi filed a suit alleging that Cardinal Mahony and the Catholic Diocese improperly responded to, and interfered with, evidence of sexual abuse within the Church. The complaint questions the transfer of Fr. Lopez from Italy given his history as a sexual abuser, and the complaint goes on to question his… read more

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A Letter from Attorney John Manly

John recently received a letter from a past client/abuse survivor letting him know that the OC Board of Supervisors planned to allow known sexual abuser and cover-up artist Lawrence Baird to give the invocation for an upcoming meeting. In the letter, John points out that this isn’t the first time the OC Board of Sups… read more

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Father Baker Pleads Guilty; is Sentenced to 10+ Years

After pleading guilty to the molestation of two parishioners, both of which were minors at the time of the incidents, Fr. Michael Baker was sentenced to more than ten years and prison, ordered to pay mental health costs for one of the victims, and required to register as a sex offender upon being released. Fr…. read more

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Mixed Emotions Expressed Regarding Settlement

Monica Almeida/The New York Times Cardinal Mahony apologized to the victims of clergy sexual abuse today, saying that he hoped the Church’s recent settlement for a record-breaking $660 million would bring a “final resolution” to the survivors. For abuse survivor Anthony Almeida (one of the 508 victims represented in the case), this settlement, and Mahony’s… read more

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