File this under Symbolic But Still Significant: Retired L.A. Cardinal Roger Mahony has been relieved of all his public and administrative duties following the release of thousands of internal documents that showed he and other church leaders actively plotted to shield known abusers from prosecution.

An auxiliary bishop also stepped down for his role in the scandal, and current L.A. Archbishop Jose Gomez calls the files “brutal and painful reading.” CNN has more on the documents here.

I guess there is such a thing as “fraternal correction” among the bishops after all.

There’s word today that the Obama administration will release yet another compromise dealing with religious groups and the contraception mandate. Watch this space for more info.

Legendary New York Mayor Ed Koch died this morning at age 88, and one of his three chosen epitaphs, according to The Forward, was borrowed from slain WSJ reporter Daniel Pearl: “My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish.”

Getting ready for the big game on Sunday? You’ll likely find equal numbers of saints and sinners on both the Ravens and 49ers, saith our own David Gibson.

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