2 charged with threatening priest in office, church

[mdgspencer]

Two men with vicious intimidation for the last four years have repeatedly demanded money from a 73-year-old Chicago Catholic priest, gaining $10,000 by now. Finally, after losing restraint in their demands for money, they have been arrested and are now in jail.
see articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-11/news/chi-chicago-crime-south-side-robbery-20131110_1_priest-police-prosecutors

 

[Windmill]

In this era of new McCarthyism where priests are “guilty until proven innocent”, I think you will see more of this type of thing. Good men who just don’t want to have to deal with the negative publicity even if it’s all lies to begin with.

Pray for our priests.

 

[oldcatholicguy]

Would this not qualify as a hate crime since they targeted him due to his faith (their “read the papers” comment)?

 

[Iheartcoffee]

It should be a hate crime. They targeted him because he is a priest.

 

[TK421]

What a dreadful situation to be in. Praise God that this priest’s burden is lifted. :bowdown2:

 

[manualman]

Would this not qualify as a hate crime since they targeted him due to his faith (their “read the papers” comment)?

Don’t sink to that level. Crimes are crimes based on the harm caused, not because of the thoughts of the criminal. Hate crime = thought crime. Not in MY America! Laws must be passed against what people DO, not what they think.

 

[SMGS127]

Don’t sink to that level. Crimes are crimes based on the harm caused, not because of the thoughts of the criminal. Hate crime = thought crime. Not in MY America! Laws must be passed against what people DO, not what they think.

One must commit an action in order to be charged with a hate crime, so I don’t get your point. They definitely should be charged with hate crimes to discourage further abuse of Catholics.

 

[JimG]

I wouldn’t characterize it as a hate crime. They wanted money. He was a good target for extortion. They would have targeted anyone for money whom they thought would give them money.

 

[manualman]

One must commit an action in order to be charged with a hate crime, so I don’t get your point. They definitely should be charged with hate crimes to discourage further abuse of Catholics.

So charge them for the crime, not the hate. Hate is far too politically malleable a word to allow the government to prosecute people for it. The crime itself is punishable, the hate is moot, legally.