| | -----Original Message----- | From: Jerry Johnson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] | Sent: Friday, December 06, 2002 4:07 PM | To: CF-Community | Subject: RE: Warning: This may offend if religious | | | I don't think you are being realistic about the number of abuse cases in our area (Boston). | | The number of priests _we know about_ so far is about the same percentage wise with the general population, but the number of abused, and the _help_ they received is what sets these cases apart from the norm. | | If a basketball coach was accused of molesting boys, very few would be told, "Hey, I know you have a problem. But that's not important now. Want to coach the boys swim team? Just troubled boys with no other parental supervision? Want to live in?" | | This is more along the lines of what went on up here. | | As for the "summer of the shark", it would be like tying pork chops to swimmers, and throwing them into known breeding grounds. And then denying that anyone went swimming at all. Candygram. | | There is more than enough fire under all this smoke, IMHO. | | Jerry Johnson | |
Pointing the finger at the media is not really where the blame lies. I doubt this "problem" will go away, until a few Attorney Generals bring charges against the Bishops for the felony crime of "Misprision of a felony" This is defined as concealing or failing to report to the proper authorities a felony offense. In defense of Mass. The Church is exempted from this offense, however most states do not exempt the church. I still consider the threat of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy by the Boston Archdiocese a paper threat, because it is still a relatively simple matter for a creditors committee (it only takes three creditors, no matter the size) to push the case into Chapter 7 liquidation. I doubt seriously that the Vatican, or the local membership would allow the liquidation of all the diocesan assets and properties to settle the abuse claims. One of the things that make the whole affair fodder for a media event, is the Vatican refusal to adopt the zero-tolerance of the commission of felonies by priests. They seem to be of a mind to "forgive these trespasses" which is well and good for a compassionate religious body, but it should not be confused with "stop the trespass" or "prevent the trespass" The whole point being not so much that there are offensive priests, but the undeniable fact that the church hierarchy is given over to concealing the offenses, and remaining in denial that they ever happen. The real wake up call for the church will come when an Arch-bishop is convicted and sent to prison for "misprision of a Felony" Or an entire Arch-Diocese is enjoined from operating. When you see this come to pass, the knee-jerk reaction will be to rid the Priesthood of all sexual deviants, molesters, and any other violators of the tenants of their faith. It seems that Cardinal Law should lead the pack. In my area, the church is finding it increasingly difficult to even recruit alter-boys, as parents are refusing to allow their children to participate in this age-old tradition, out of fear. I remain confident in my belief that only the surface has been scratched by some of the victims coming forward. I believe that there are many more who will never come forward to report offenses against them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=5 Signup for the Fusion Authority news alert and keep up with the latest news in ColdFusion and related topics. http://www.fusionauthority.com/signup.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
