I don't know this for a fact but I heard that when Cardinal Mahoney closed down a bunch of offices last week, including Gay & Lesbian, Peace & Justice, African American and Hispanic, which affected 60 people, he did not personally break the news to them but sent someone to do the dirty work. No advance warning, just a quick axe.

On the other hand I understand that Cardinal Egan did visit with each of the people who were being let go in the cuts. Now that's backbone.

The other thing that is alarming is why the Hispanic office and the African American Vicariate got the axe. LA happens to be one of the areas with a very large and active black Catholic population and this is going to hurt. But the most mind numbing move is the closing down of the Hispanic office . . . IN LA!!!!

I found out a few months ago that California did not have a state Catholic Conference. I haven't confirmed that but I think that that is the case. If it is, then they need to get on the ball because that state is huge and abortion right activists are looking to and have scored some points in California. A state conference can work at coordinating lobbying efforts and informing the local dioceses and parishes about upcoming and pending legislation and also about candidates. Unless, of course, there is a body that fulfills that role. But even then, I doubt that such a body would have as much clout as a state Catholic conference.