Mahony's influence is dwindling in L.A.
There was a time when Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, leader of the largest Roman Catholic diocese in the United States, was a formidably influential political figure. A decade ago, he was a member of Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan's inner circle and the spiritual leader of a growing community with exponentially expanding power.
Today, Mahony remains one of the region's most recognized leaders and a sought-after voice on certain issues. But time, scandal and the shifting demographics of Los Angeles politics have diminished Mahony's might to the point that his recent remonstrations -- in which he took to task Fabian Nunez, the speaker of the California Assembly, for endorsing an assisted suicide bill -- have served more to emphasize Mahony's weakness than to deter Nunez.
Told that the cardinal had accused him of favoring a "culture of death," Nunez expressed unhappiness but pressed ahead. "I have a lot of respect for the cardinal," Nunez told Times columnist George Skelton, "but I'm deeply disappointed in his comments."
Unlike African American leaders, who have struggled to hold onto power in the face of their community's declining demographic significance, Mahony's limited political punch does not reflect his base: Catholics make up an increasing percentage of Los Angeles, and Latinos, who are primarily Catholic, are far and away the region's fastest-growing population group.
Instead, the cardinal's dwindling throw-weight reflects several intersecting trends as well as the damage done to the church -- and to Mahony personally -- by the long, painful scandal over pedophile priests. Those cases have eroded the church's authority generally and have specifically embroiled Mahony in charges that he protected priests rather than taking steps to ensure the safety of children.
Moreover, Mahony's influence oddly may be waning in inverse proportion to the power of some of his flock. Over the last decade, the rise of Latino voters has propelled a growing number of Latino officials -- notably Nunez and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa -- and they now command much of the leadership that once was Mahony's.
"The rise of Latino elected officials has overshadowed the influence of the church," said Raphael Sonenshein, a political science professor at Cal State Fullerton and longtime student of Los Angeles ethnic politics. "The cardinal's influence is not what it once was."
