Mexican cardinal questioned over abuse case

Cardinal Norberto Rivera was questioned by U.S. lawyers after having been accused of knowing sending a priest blamed for child abuse to Los Angles. The once leading candidate for Pope was under deposition for about nine hours from the headquarters of the Mexico City archdiocese.

Earlier this year, Cardinal Rivera’s attorney said that he ought to be tried in Mexico since that was where the alleged abuse was committed by fugitive priest Nicolas Aguilar. Yet as one of the lawyers for plaintiff Joaquin Aguilar Mendez mentioned last month:

"We want to get the information out of Rivera about what he knew about this predator," (Jeffrey) Anderson said. "We're going to try to get answers from Cardinal Rivera about why he covered this up."

Not only is Rivera the leading roman Catholic clergyman in Mexico, but he has been one of the most vocal conservative voices in issues like decriminalizing abortion and in favor of increased Church involvement in politics.

Sources- BBC News, TVNZ, The Latin Americanist, Reuters

Image- Noticieros Televisa