Maker of film on abuse, cardinal's spokesman trade words over movie

Published: 2006-10-16

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The director of a new documentary recounting how a now-laicized priest repeatedly sexually abused children in California has provoked a war of words between the director and the chief spokesman for Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles, who is portrayed in the movie as having ignored the priest's deeds. This war of words is being played out in that area of the Internet known as the blogosphere, where essays and opinions can be posted at any time. In one corner is Amy Berg, who wrote and directed "Deliver Us From Evil," which details the abuses by Oliver O'Grady, a former priest of the Diocese of Stockton, Calif. In the other is Tod Tamberg, director of media relations for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Cardinal Mahony headed the Stockton Diocese from 1980-85. He was named to head the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in July 1985, and "it was not until 1993 that accusations were made leading to O'Grady's arrest and eventual sentencing to prison," Tamberg said. O'Grady admitted in a 1993 criminal trial that he molested boys. He spent six years in prison following a 1994 conviction for child molestation.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .