A senior cardinal has joined a growing number of Catholics
questioning whether Cardinal Roger Mahony should miss the conclave that
will elect a new pope.Cardinal Velasio De Paolis said that the retired cardinal, who has been criticised for his handling of the abuse crisis, has the right to take part but should make a decision based on his conscience.
He said: "He could be advised not to take part only through a private intervention by someone with great authority."
Visitors to the website of Italian magazine Famiglia Cristiana said in an online poll that the former archbishop of Los Angeles should miss the election.
One visitor said: "It seems inconceivable to me that he doesn't feel the moral duty to abstain from the conclave."
A group of American Catholics, Catholics United, has launched a petition titled "Cardinal Mahony: stay home".
The group said the Cardinal's presence at the conclave could cause scandal in the Church.