I have a very disturbing situation

[Prodigal_Son1]

It’s funny, I have about as average an email account (3 of them, actually) as you can have…I don’t get porn spam…not in months and months. Back when I got porn spam, it was heterosexual porn spam. Now all I get is the occasional viagra spam.

Like I said, my antennae are staying up.

Congradulations on your keeping your computer and anti-virus up to date! Also, I assume you have knowledge of the internet and know not to sign up for freebies or offers that sound too good to be true. I also assume you know to be careful where you share your email address online.

Not everyone knows these things. Some people are new to using a computer and the internet.

I would not be too quick to judge someone, especially a priest. They deserve the benefit of the doubt until something is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Your innuendo of a priest and gay porn spam was a confession your own inappropriate thinking. How would you feel if I took your cliche of Dog bites man and turned it into guilty dog barks first? This remark is not to offend you but to try and make you think first.

While I wouldn’t blame someone for being cautious, I would advise refraining from destroying a priest immediately.

Like TheDoctor, I am suspect of the OP…not judging but being cautious at this point like I said above.

God bless,

 

[Catholic90]

Well, it seems for starters we can’t trust YOU.

Any computer savvy person knows you don’t have to open messages to transfer them.
Also, as a computer savvy person, you should be fully aware how spam and webcrawlers can “harvest” names and information. This is then used for phishing scams.
Third, I get spam all the time. It goes into my junk email, thanks to my spam filter.
Fourth, you are a new poster and your first post is in relation to gay porn and a priest…something smells funny (besides my dog who just passed gas again).

 

[LittleDeb]

I have updated a number of email programs. It is an automated process and the most you would look at would be the headers from the email. You would not be able to see any info unless you opened the email and read the body and there is no legitimate reason to do that if you are switching over mail. Sorry, that does not sound right as well.

Preview pane would show the body of the email. It is the default setting in Outlook…or it used to be when I was using it.

 

[TheDoctor]

Preview pane would show the body of the email. It is the default setting in Outlook…or it used to be when I was using it.

I agree the preview pane being open would show you the body but only the body of the email your are currently on. Aagain, there is no legitimate reason to page down through emails if you are essentially running a macro to move email into outlook (and I can’t believe I am talking good about a Mircosoft product…where the heck is my Thunderbird???)

 

[lizaanne]

I agree the preview pane being open would show you the body but only the body of the email your are currently on.

This is also not true - I can look at my inbox right now and see the begining three lines of the content of everything in my inbox all at the same time. I am set to “auto preview” with reading pane set to the bottom position. If someone were to walk up to me and look over my shoulder they could see the begining content of everything in my inbox (that fits within the view of my monitor).

~Liza

 

[whiteknite]

However, a few days ago I was working on his computer to help him with email troubles he said he’s been having. Well, I was adding his old email to his outlook when there were a few messages (only three) and I glanced at what it said, and it said something about how it failed to receive the correct information for his order on “camboys” and their was were pictures of naked guys. He proceeded to saying he has such a problem with spam, but I can’t understand how it’s spam when it identifies your name saying they had trouble processing the order. I’ve just been feeling like i’ve been hit in the guy for over a few days now. It’s like, if I can’t trust him, who can I trust?

It does state “failed to receive the correct information for his order on “camboys” and their was were pictures of naked guys”
Personaly i think its not spam as he doesnt mension spam folder!!

Wake up!!!

:knight1:

 

[adstrinity]

On the other side of this coin, I HAVE been to porn sites. A fair amount of them. None of those sites EVER just e-mailed me out of the blue.

Also, if the priest in question really was into the more hard core sites, or, ANY at all, because of his vocation, and the scandal this would bring, he would probably be intelligent enough to open a dummy non-business account, one that nobody would EVER see if he was a pro at this.

 

[lizaanne]

It does state “failed to receive the correct information for his order on “camboys” and their was were pictures of naked guys”
Personaly i think its not spam as he doesnt mension spam folder!!

Wake up!!!

:knight1:

Not all spam ends up in a spam folder - it takes filters to do that and not everyone has their mail set up to do this.

Stop trying to hang a priest just because some person logs on to a forum and makes their very first post about a VERY questionable situation.

Wake up - not everything is how it may appear. There are way too many unknowns here.

Personally - I don’t buy the story, and I don’t think this priest has done anything wrong. Spam happens.

~Liza

 

[Newbie2]

Check his temporary internet file…if porn pix or video was downloaded and not deleted, they may be still in there.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

It does state “failed to receive the correct information for his order on “camboys” and their was were pictures of naked guys”
Personaly i think its not spam as he doesnt mension spam folder!!

Wake up!!!

:knight1:

Depending on the age of the computer and software being used, there may not be a spam folder. And, even if there was a spam folder some don’t know how to set their settings to automatically work and I might add I have all email come in to my inbox as the junk mail filter makes mistakes on some of my e-bills including car insurance, electricity, credit card, etc.

Who had the computer before the priest? How long did this priest have it? Was part of his email problems because it was a shared computer? The OP didn’t even list his religion in his profile, how can we be sure he’s Catholic? He doesn’t even say it’s a Catholic priest. This was a first time post for this user, are they one of the many Catholic bashers that fly by these forums to create havoc or attempt to embarrass the Church? There are too many questions to automatically condemn this priest, in my opinion. Like I said, for now be cautious but there’s not enough evidence to condemn this priest.

Don’t be so quick to destroy a priest. Wake up means open your eyes.

God Bless,

 

[Mystic_Warrior]

Hello all,

I’ve been reading this site for quite awhile now, and recently I had a very shocking event happen to where it forced me to make a user name and start becoming active in these forums. I Hope this is the right place to post this.

Anyways, I’ve meet this new priest a few months ago. He was different, he was wise a witty, funny, smart, understanding. He went out of his was to donate to the poor, argue with the bishop who said he gave away to much money, etc. This priest was golden, I thought.

However, a few days ago I was working on his computer to help him with email troubles he said he’s been having. Well, I was adding his old email to his outlook when there were a few messages (only three) and I glanced at what it said, and it said something about how it failed to receive the correct information for his order on “camboys” and their was were pictures of naked guys. He proceeded to saying he has such a problem with spam, but I can’t understand how it’s spam when it identifies your name saying they had trouble processing the order. I’ve just been feeling like i’ve been hit in the guy for over a few days now. It’s like, if I can’t trust him, who can I trust?

I receive over 1,000 spam emails a month in my gmail account. Most go directly into the spam folder, but some slip through. They can be anything from direct email marketing to Nigerian scams to pornography sites. Spam is an equal opportunity employer. Who knows if this priest is “X” kind of person? I guess the question would be if you see behavior that is not right. Then you could come to some conclusion. As it stands, you have a few emails that could or could not be spam.

Peace…

MW

 

[lizaanne]

Check his temporary internet file…if porn pix or video was downloaded and not deleted, they may be still in there.

Ok - this post and all the others who have suggested this sort of thing, you folks need to realize that to do ANYTHING that was not asked for, to snoop, to be deceitful in any way is downright WRONG!!!

Sorry - but if there is ever a REAL suspicion of wrong doing, to suggest that anyone doing something on their own is just so completely wrong!!! It blows my mind that people would even suggest such actions!!

If there truly is a reason to suspect something then it should be reported to someone who has the authority and ability to investigate properly and legally.

My gosh - now we have reduced ourselves to snooping???!!! Unbelievable.

~Liza

 

[Catholic90]

I think we’re all being baited, people.

 

[Newbie2]

Ok - this post and all the others who have suggested this sort of thing, you folks need to realize that to do ANYTHING that was not asked for, to snoop, to be deceitful in any way is downright WRONG!!!

Sorry - but if there is ever a REAL suspicion of wrong doing, to suggest that anyone doing something on their own is just so completely wrong!!! It blows my mind that people would even suggest such actions!!

If there truly is a reason to suspect something then it should be reported to someone who has the authority and ability to investigate properly and legally.

My gosh - now we have reduced ourselves to snooping???!!! Unbelievable.

~Liza

Well, that’s really the point, isn’t it? Seeing the emails really doesn’t tell (us) anything about if there is or is not a reason to suspect anything else that is inappropriate.

So what to do:

1. Ignore the whole thing.
2. Report it based on what may or may not be merely spam.
3. Confront him with your suspicion.
4. Verify if there is indeed nothing to be concerned about by
   checking to make sure nothing appropriate is being
   downloaded.

I understand the concern over snooping, but how would you. lizanne, determine what’s sufficient grounds for “suspicion”?

Based on the title, “I have a very disturbing situation”, I would suggest that Ignoring it isn’t a very good idea. Best to get to the bottom of it before any inappropriate rumors get going or if there is truly a problem, get attention for it.

 

[Michcool125]

I think either one of two things. Either your priest is leading a double like or else you are making this up as a first post to see what sort of response you get from the people here.

Thanks for all the responses guys I’m really glad I found a nice community of catholics like this. I’m not surprised that even here people just make accounts and make up stories to see the response they get, but rest assured this is a real problem I’m having and I’d never do something like that.

Anyways, this Sunday I’m suspoed to install a DVD drive for him to so he can watch his religious stuff on his computer. Maybe if I get a chance I can make sure then, because it’s just killing me not knowing. Surely it is ok to do something bad for the greater good? My intentions couldn’t be better!

 

[Michcool125]

well guys, I’ve been reading these responses, and I find it strange that even though I have an Associates in computer science, I’ve never once heard of spam that had a user name and said you had an order placed and a problem confirming it or whatever. and I’d assume modern email technologies would eliminate at least these kind of more “personal” spam.

 

[Michcool125]

I think it would depend on the reaction. Did the priest immediately defend the situation and act as shocked as you were? Was he appalled by it?

He said “oh, well thats nice” then “I have such a problem with spam” and “don’t delete it, I like to see just exactly where it’s coming from”

he also had only three emails, this being one of them.

 

[Michcool125]

ok guys, I see there are many different views on this, but let me try to make a few things more clear.

First, I know I’m brand new here and this is perfect bait to see how people will react, but damn it I’m truly a Catholic with a real problem and I want to give him the benefit of the doubt as much as anyone. He is the first priest I meet that actually got me wanting to go to church again. I don’t want to say anything.

Second, why all the flaming toward me? Well again, I understand it’s my first post, but why automatically assume the worst of me or anyone? Is that really a problem on this forum or something?

 

[Cristiano]

…Anyways, this Sunday I’m suspoed to install a DVD drive for him to so he can watch his religious stuff on his computer. Maybe if I get a chance I can make sure then, because it’s just killing me not knowing. Surely it is ok to do something bad for the greater good? My intentions couldn’t be better!

If you are a Catholic you should know that we are not permitted to sin for a greater good. It is not up to us to make that choice.

If is is illegal you have a responsibility to inform the Diocese and the police.

If you keep playing around with his computer you might become the one that is considered a prime suspect for putting stuff on the computer. If it is illegal you are destroying the validity of following IT forensics.

If it is not illegal and you feel that the priest did that, then be a man and face the priest directly.

Finally I get that kind of spam through my work computer and I can assure that we have up to date filters and frequent spam reporting.

 

[Newbie2]

He said “oh, well thats nice” then “I have such a problem with spam” and “don’t delete it, I like to see just exactly where it’s coming from”

he also had only three emails, this being one of them.

He’d like to see just exactly see where it’s coming from because…

Wouldn’t one think to just get rid of spam?

BTW Cookies can also be checked, if they’ve not been cleared.

I guess we’d all like to think it’s extremely unlikely that there’s a real problem here…but methinks it’s worthwhile looking into. If there’s nothing amiss, then the matter can be dropped. If not, then it’s worth reporting.

While not making judgments on this particular situation, look at the fallout from the priests that did/do have a problem with inappropriate sexuality. Hundreds if not thousands of lives ruined, potentially hundreds of millions of dollars that could have gone to charitable causes lost on lawsuits and the irreplacable loss of trust of priests and their bishops, for some people.

Snooping? Maybe. In some ways is this much different than if an older son or daughter had the same thing happen on your home computer?

Trust but verify.