In Santa Ana, California a Catholic Bishop faces a criminal charge of contempt of court. Bishop Tod Brown of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange followed his decision to send a high-ranking church official out of the country for medical treatment before he could be fully deposed in a sexual abuse case. For the full story, click here Monsignor John Urell had broken down during his deposition and then Brown sent him out of the country.
The Catholic Church hardly needs additional legal problems and this decision shows remarkably bad judgment. This may be the first criminal contempt charge brought against a bishop.