Man disrupts Mass in protest over church abuses

James Robertson, 58, handcuffed himself to the cardinal's chair.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A man was arrested Sunday after he handcuffed himself to Cardinal Roger Mahony's chair during a service to protest the church's handling of allegedly abusive priests.

Several thousand people were attending Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels when James Robertson walked toward the altar and handcuffed himself to the chair, police said. Mahony, who was delivering the homily about 15 feet away, continued with the service. Robertson did not speak with Mahony.

Robertson, 58, was arrested without incident for misdemeanor investigation of disturbing a religious ceremony. He was released.

Robertson said he disturbed the church service because he wanted "the people in the pews to listen to the victims' stories from the victims themselves."