[NYTr] Protecting Pedophiles: Mexico's Top Cardinal Complains of Threats (awww)
 
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 17:48:28 -0500 (CDT)

Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
sent by Milt Shapiro (mexnews)

AP - Oct 9, 2007

Mexican cardinal complains of threats

The Associated Press

Mexico's top Roman Catholic cardinal, who is accused in a U.S. 
lawsuit of protecting an alleged pedophile priest, said he has 
received threats and will ask the government additional security.

Norberto Rivera said he feels "always at risk" in an interview 
broadcast by the Televisa network, after several protesters kicked, 
pounded and reportedly spat at his car outside Mexico City's 
cathedral after his weekly Mass.

It was unclear why the protesters attacked the car, and Rivera has 
not said who is behind death threats against him.

Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said Tuesday he had instructed his 
security secretary, Joel Ortega, to help. But Church officials have 
suggested that Sunday's confrontation may have involved supporters of 
Ebrard's Democratic Revolution Party, which party officials deny.

"We can't tolerate this kind of chaos at the cathedral," Rivera said, 
"where today they hit me and tomorrow they shoot at me."

Rivera seemed to suggest he wanted help from federal authorities, and 
it was unclear if he would accept the offer from the capital's 
leftist government, which has accused him of interfering in politics 
by organizing opposition to a new city law legalizing abortion in the 
first trimester. Mexican law prohibits clerics from taking an active 
role in politics.

Rivera has been accused in connection with a lawsuit of protecting a 
priest accused of molesting young boys in the U.S. and Mexico. Rivera 
says he was unaware of child molestation allegations against accused 
priest Nicolas Aguilar.

Rivera's spokesman, Hugo Valdemar, was not available Tuesday to 
respond to questions.

Copyright B) 2007 The Associated Press.

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