Abuse inquiry in turmoil

Los Angeles

The head of the Roman Catholic Church’s inquiry into sexual abuse by priests resigned this week after accusing leading bishops of a coverup worthy of the Mafia. Former Oklahoma governor Frank Keating told the Los Angeles Times that some church leaders had refused to release information on priests accused of molesting children, despite a promise to cooperate. “To act like La Cosa Nostra, and hide and suppress, I think, is very unhealthy,” Keating said. Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony denounced the comments as “off-the-wall.” The two had sparred for months, but Mahony said Keating’s latest remarks were the “last straw.”