L.A. cardinal hospitalized with lung clot

Mahony

BURBANK, California (CNN) -- Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony is expected to remain in the hospital for at least a week while he is treated with blood thinners after suffering blood clots in his lung, his personal physician said.

Mahony, 66, is resting comfortably in Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, said Dr. Lee Parsons during a Monday news conference.

Mahony was admitted to the hospital on Sunday.

"He complained of chest pain. When he took a deep breath it hurt. Some shortness of breath and a pain in his arm," said Parsons.

He said the cardinal is on blood thinners to prevent future clots and would remain in the hospital for seven to 10 days.

The doctor said it was likely that Mahony developed the clots during his 12-hour flight from Rome last week after he and other U.S. cardinals discussed with Pope John II the controversy over complaints of sexual abuse of minors by priests, a scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church in America.

Four men filed two sex abuse lawsuits Monday charging Mahony with aiding and abetting a felon.

EXTRA INFORMATION Background: Mahony and other key players  in the Catholic Church scandal

The suits allege that Mahony was informed in 1991 and 1994 about claims of sexual abuse by one of his priests that occurred between 1964 and 1975 but did not take action.

A call to the archdiocese for comment was not immediately returned.

Mahony, who was born in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles in 1936, was ordained a priest in 1962 and was installed archbishop of Los Angeles in 1985, becoming the first head of the Los Angeles Archdiocese born in the city. He was elevated to cardinal in 1991.

Mahony developed a blood clot in his lung in July 1998 after undergoing surgery to remove his prostate.

Parsons said Mahony requested a laptop computer to continue his work, but the doctor said he would advise the cardinal to cut back on his busy schedule.