LA Times: Archdiocese Says It Didn't Shield Kids From Priests

[autorank]

Archdiocese Says It Didn't Shield Kids From Priests

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lapriest12oct12,0,4555379.story?coll=la-home-headlines

By Jean Guccione and Nita Lelyveld, Times Staff Writers
10/12/05

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles allowed at least eight priests to remain in contact with children even after receiving complaints that the clerics had a sexual interest in minors, according to church documents produced in the lawsuits by hundreds of alleged sexual-abuse victims.

That is twice as many as the church had previously conceded.
The documents, which became public Tuesday, indicate that numerous children might have avoided harm if church leaders in the 1960s, '70s and '80s had reacted more vigorously to warnings about abusive priests. Tod Tamberg, spokesman for the archdiocese, said the documents would be posted at midnight Tuesday on the archdiocese website, http://www.la-archdiocese.org .

The documents offer the most unfiltered look yet at the way the archdiocese responded to child-molestation allegations involving its priests over the last half-century.

<snip>

Seven accused priests remain in active ministry today, according to the archdiocese, with at least one abuse allegation against each of them. Church officials said accusations against the seven have not been substantiated. In all, at least 245 clergy members from the L.A. Archdiocese have been accused of molestation, according to the documents. Church officials had previously put the figure at 219.

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The truth is coming out everywhere!

[MountainLaurel]

1. If this isn't criminal negligence

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles allowed at least eight priests to remain in contact with children even after receiving complaints that the clerics had a sexual interest in minors

[Kagemusha]

2. Probably just said, there's a presumption of innocence

and I don't mean a presumption of the innocence OF THE CHILDREN, mind you, though one might assume that is the real matter of import.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. no, we have to consider that, considering church legal attacks elsewhere

no, I think the plainest reading of RICO clearly covers the Catholic church since RICO's inception.
This is a criminal organization, transfering known abusers without warning to other locations, hiding them, hiding records, denying and attacking the families who complained.

They knew since the 50s that this was a serious problem, not just in the US, but world wide.

Read about Poland, Germany, Ireland, parts of Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, most of south america, France, Italy, Austria

just to name a few.

[drmom]

4. Has it occurred to any of those in charge that PEOPLE ARE SEXUAL BEINGS!

Why do we see so much of this in the Catholic church and not in other religions? Gee...could it be that the poor Catholic priests have to take a vow of celibacy? When will they figure out that this is unnatural. Since when does being a spiritual leader mean not having sex? What does one have to do with the other? (And I ask this as someone who was raised Catholic)

[MichiganVote]

5. Celibacy has nothing to do with raping a six year old kid in the butt

If sex is what a person wants, there are adults perfectly able and willing to perform that function. Quit making excuses for these bastards.

[niallmac]

13. Then where does the question go?

Why just the Catholic church in this huge mess? And since my fingers are on the keys let me ask- If one is a Catholic, do you not owe it to your own soul and the world and the victims to raise holy hell? Shouldn't the masses in the Masses make a statement of disgust?

[MichiganVote]

14. Well, here's the long and short of it...

Why just the Catholic church in this huge mess?

Other religions have also dealt with the issue of the sexual abuse of minors by clerics. What makes the case of the Catholics so deplorable is that (1. The Catholic Hierarchy has been shown to have deliberately and with determination block any and all investigations throughout the world. (2. A large number of the abuse cases have been reported and found credible from among the seminaries. (3. No other main stream religion has placed such a high value on chastity as the Catholic church. The hypocrisy is astounding in view of today's world to those who were not raised as a Catholic. To those raised as Catholics this reasoning is commonplace.

And since my fingers are on the keys let me ask-

If one is a Catholic, do you not owe it to your own soul and the world and the victims to raise holy hell?

Catholic parishoners seldom, if ever, raise holy hell about anything. Victims report that always, always, they were both told and assumed to have been the sinner who tempted the 'holy' father. Sick? Sure, but the fact is most Catholics have been led in this denial and readily adopt it to maintain their faith in a Christian ideal.


Shouldn't the masses in the Masses make a statement of disgust?

Disgust among Catholics usually is expressed by pursed lips, a few missed envelopes, general denial, and a return to prayer and good works. Catholics associate priests with minor dieties. Should, would and could are all possible but unlikely.

Finally, no victims of clergy abuse anywhere have supported the notion that clergy sex abuse is related to homosexuality. I'm thinkin' they should know.

[niallmac]

17. It is not just a little bit like mind control.

I am a big fan of 'some' of the great thoughts and ideas of Jesus and Ghandi and the Bhudda's etc but for the reasons you so succinctly put forth (thank you) I avoid participation in any religion like I avoid Rush Limbaugh.

So many organizations from public schools to churches that teach everything under the sun but independent thinking or mistrust of authority. With all due respect to any Catholic who lives a good life for him or herself, their family and mankind I expect that same person to keep their brain engaged in when being dictated to by any human being whether they be wearing robes a uniform or a dress.

The homosexual witch hunt now in progress in the Catholic church is very disturbing. As you say, these were not homosexual crimes. They were first and foremost crimes of people in positions of authority victimizing children. This trend of religious/fascist selecting out of homosexuals seems an ominous trend.

Religion scares the hell out of me. If you choose to fight it head on sooner or later it's the dunking stool for you. If you ignore it it grows pompous and wants to tell you how to live and how to die.

I appreciate your thoughts on the Catholic Church.

[MichiganVote]

19. The irony is that religion in most of the world's stated beliefs

appears to want to offer comfort to people. Yet over and over again, I hear people express fear and distrust. Karl Marx decribed religion as the "opium of the masses". Perhaps he is right.

To me they are a business interest. For those who hang on to the middle ages routine, I say, get a life...a real life.

[Matariki]

20. I think the Dali Lama has also taken a vow of celibacy

[arwalden]

6. Oughtn't The Vatican Be More Concerned About THIS... Instead Of

... whether or not homosexuals should have the same rights as others. That's just ASTOUNDING!!

Why do so many Catholics put up with that shit?

[Ex Lion Tamer]

7. Not all of us do . . .

I'm appalled by the abuse.

I think the homosexual witch hunt is stupid, hurtful, and misguided.

And I'm a Catholic--with no desire to leave the Church. I will continue to campaign for change from within the Church. I donate my money only to my parish; and I'm in a position to know that's exactly where it's spent.

[arwalden]

9. Well...

<< "Not all of us do . . ." I'm appalled by the abuse. >>

That's true. Not all Catholics do. I did not say or suggest such a thing about *all* Catholics. I lamented by asking the question about why "so many Catholics" are willing to put up with it.

It's clear that not nearly enough care about these things as much as you do. That's pretty damn sad.


<< And I'm a Catholic--with no desire to leave the Church. >>

Then by default, you're supporting their anti-gay bigotry, and their indifference towards the welfare of children at the hands of sexual predators.

Obviously you don't actually approve on an intellectual level of these things... but your continued presence is an indicator on some level that you consent. It bothers you a little... but not enough to take a stand.

Many people like you have found a way to justify staying. I have to wonder if there is ANY act so horrible, so bigoted, so hateful that people like you would consider abandoning it? Where would that line be? How bigoted and vicious would the church have to become before those folks would abandon it? At what point would they be so horrified by the indifference, the bigotry and witch-hunts that they would take a stand?

<< I will continue to campaign for change from within the Church. >>

The church doesn't care what you think. As long as you're a member and as long as you continue to donate money... they don't care.


<< I donate my money only to my parish; and I'm in a position to know that's exactly where it's spent. >>

It all goes into the same purse. Even though it may be "allocated" for some special purpose. The fact that you've contributed to a special local fund means that OTHER money is freed-up for bigoted political activism.


edit: clarity, emphasis

[MichiganVote]

15. Welcome Ex Lion Tamer

If I had a nickel for all the catholics who believed they would change the catholic church I think I'd be a wealthy person by now.

Actually, following along the faith of your beliefs, you will never change the church. Your God will change the church, with or without your campaign.

That said, in my opinion, Rome has left the churches in America. May be that's a good thing, may be that's a bad thing. The Vatican has done little more than pay lip service to this issue for decades. Without the victims and the press, your church, its criminal priests and its parishoners would still be in hiding.

In the final analysis, the LA expose proves again that children and vulnerable youth continue at risk.

[CatholicEdHead]

8. Here is the direct link to the 155 pages that were released

http://cardinal.la-archdiocese.org/pdf/2005/Addendum%20to%20The%20Report%20to%20the%20People%20of%20God.pdf

It is a PDF file.

[KansDem]

10. So, when are the accused going to be arrested and put on trial?

And when will the church officials be arrested as well?

Isn't that the way it works with accused child molesters and those who knew about and protected those accused of child molesting?

[MichiganVote]

16. Not in this country. We enable child molestors in or out of churches

Statutes of Limitations

Another name for license to kill a childhood and get away with it

[Katha]

11. Jean Guccione is a good friend of mine

She's been working on this story for several years now and is committed to its staying in the headlines. I am very proud of her.

[autorank]

12. Tell your friend thank you.

This story is important as an ongoing reality check for a lot of people. The denial factor is so rich that the survivors/victims often times question themselves. She's an excellent journalist. Lets clone her!

[The_Casual_Observer]

18. Archdiocese fits the description of a child molestation ring

to me. The whole bunch ought to be rounded up for life sentences of hard labor. Those sanctimonious shits were all for bush on the last two elections, they are dirty swine.