Priest charged with possessing child porn

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Has anyone else noticed that almost the only time crimes commited by clergy are brought to light is when they are commited by Roman Catholic Priests?
 
HailMary90 said:
Has anyone else noticed that almost the only time crimes commited by clergy are brought to light is when they are commited by Roman Catholic Priests?
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Yep, despite the fact that abuse occurs in Protestant and Jewish communities, including coverups, they don’t get nearly as much press.

I would very much like to see “diocese waited five months to hand images over to police” to become a thing of the past. I’m no expert but I can’t see a rational reason for that kind of thing. It makes the whole situation significantly worse and just gives critics more ammo.
 
HailMary90 said:
Has anyone else noticed that almost the only time crimes commited by clergy are brought to light is when they are commited by Roman Catholic Priests?
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That has not been my experience where we live.

However, those who have either committed or covered up these transgressions play right into the hands of those who are delighted to find fault with the Church.
 
ChristIsTheWay said:
I’m glad to hear that. Maybe it is just my area.
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Where I live, Catholics are in the minority, so there have certainly been non-Catholic clergy who have made the news for abusing children or adolescents. Sadly there have been several priests and a few religious Brothers, as well.
 
child pornography if it is published is wrong most agree.To molest of course is worse.But a person who gets turned on by looking at little children or finagelles to photograph young girls not from some hidden place(like hiding a camera in a bathroom) but like shooting them in a playground or walking up stairs isn’t so terribly criminal in my mind than a person who say steals $200 worth of merchandise at a clothing store.We all know that a person who looks a child porn can be dangerous because it might lead to more evil behavior but is this sin so much worse than many others?i know priests are held to higher standards and we are all a little shocked when about such things but he is still a human being and is surely capable(perhaps even more so than laity)of sin like anyone else.I think its a shame that he tried to commit suicide.He’s so aware of all the priests scandals taking place he probably felt that he be crucified by the public.I think the media is overplaying this scandal a bit really because all the world expects priests to be some kind of saints.He should be fined like any other individual and of course put through the necessary steps by the Church to help such priests but child pornography is rampant all over this world and in each city but the average Joe is never mentioned.This priest may never be able to hold his head up again just because of this.Its not right.
 
Important correction to post 1. The Bishop reported the priest to the police the very next day and also provided them with the picture. The police advised the Bishop that this did NOTconstitute child pornography. The Bishop also consulted his lawyers, who advised him the same. In other words, there was no prosecutable offense.

However the bishop decided even if they did not have enough evidence to pursue an actual criminal charge, the computer files and the subsequent emotionally unstable behavior of the priest warranted getting him away from children immediately, which was done and which the priest agreed to. A few months later the priest broke his agreement and went to a child’s party at the invitation of a parish parent (sometimes you have to wonder is some of the blame rests with parents, why do none of them ever report these abuse cases?).

This unexpected lack of obedience by the priest (you would think a suicide attempt would indicate repentence, but this is a mental illness), prompted the bishop to immediately RE-CONTACT (2nd time) the police and ask if there was anything they could do to look into the matter. The police then took over, search warrant and their efforts leading to the arrest.

Seems to me this bishop did everything he could as info became available, especially considering the first time he was going by the police and attorneys own advice of whether a crime was committed.
 
Lady_Marchmain said:
Important correction to post 1. The Bishop reported the priest to the police the very next day and also provided them with the picture. The police advised the Bishop that this did NOTconstitute child pornography. The Bishop also consulted his lawyers, who advised him the same. In other words, there was no prosecutable offense.

However the bishop decided even if they did not have enough evidence to pursue an actual criminal charge, the computer files and the subsequent emotionally unstable behavior of the priest warranted getting him away from children immediately, which was done and which the priest agreed to. A few months later the priest broke his agreement and went to a child’s party at the invitation of a parish parent (sometimes you have to wonder is some of the blame rests with parents, why do none of them ever report these abuse cases?).

This unexpected lack of obedience by the priest (you would think a suicide attempt would indicate repentence, but this is a mental illness), prompted the bishop to immediately RE-CONTACT (2nd time) the police and ask if there was anything they could do to look into the matter. The police then took over, search warrant and their efforts leading to the arrest.

Seems to me this bishop did everything he could as info became available, especially considering the first time he was going by the police and attorneys own advice of whether a crime was committed.
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Well, if this is the case then I would agree that the diocese pursued a reasonable course of action.
 
^ Yeah I would agree if this is what happened then they did the right thing.
 
HailMary90 said:
Has anyone else noticed that almost the only time crimes commited by clergy are brought to light is when they are commited by Roman Catholic Priests?
Click to expand...
I don’t know of another faith community which is so - let’s say ‘interested’ rather than the other words which spring to mind - in the morality of what people do about their sexuality, even on their own. It is therefore significantly more newsworthy when someone who represents this faith, and has personally and publicly committed to celibacy, offends in a way which virtually everyone considers evil. It would be really off if Catholic clergy did NOT get more publicity.

From the more detailed report in this case, it seems the Bishop was really sensible, and understood that there are not many who read cookbooks who don’t enjoy food. Acting as soon as the priest broke the rules about contact with children was the right thing to do, as was involving the police. I hope the priest has not offended physically against children (yet) and that he gets professional help to stop before he starts.
 
It seems to me that the photographs were taken in public places, picturing the children’s regular everyday activities. To call them pornographic is sick.

Also I see no proof, that the photographs were taken by the priest, and not put there by someone else

Also the priest was immediately separated from any contact with children.

The proper world is witch-hunt for this case.
 
valentino said:
I think the media is overplaying this scandal a bit really because all the world expects priests to be some kind of saints.He should be fined like any other individual and of course put through the necessary steps by the Church to help such priests but child pornography is rampant all over this world and in each city but the average Joe is never mentioned.This priest may never be able to hold his head up again just because of this.Its not right.
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Chile pornography in the the US is dealth with very harshly.

As this article points out, draconian measures are applied to the child porn producer as well as the surfer.

I think it’s important to take that stance otherwise, it would be more rampant than it is now.
 
valentino said:
child pornography if it is published is wrong most agree.To molest of course is worse.But a person who gets turned on by looking at little children or finagelles to photograph young girls not from some hidden place(like hiding a camera in a bathroom) but like shooting them in a playground or walking up stairs isn’t so terribly criminal in my mind …
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Do you have children?
 
valentino said:
child pornography if it is published is wrong most agree.To molest of course is worse.But a person who gets turned on by looking at little children or finagelles to photograph young girls not from some hidden place(like hiding a camera in a bathroom) but like shooting them in a playground or walking up stairs isn’t so terribly criminal in my mind than a person who say steals $200 worth of merchandise at a clothing store
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Are you seriously suggesting that stealing $200 worth of clothes is somehow comparable to a paedophile who photographs small children.

There is a difference. I’d only beat one of those criminals to death with my bare hands.
 
We can’t always believe all the facts in secular news media.

However, the lap top was evidence and should have been given to the police, and the police should have given the Diocese a receipt. Evidence should never be destoryed or given to the wrong parties.

catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-sets-may-2012-deadline-for-global-abuse-guidelines/
–In the future, the Diocese Bishop will be held personally responsibile by the Vatican for the proper handling of abuse cases.
AND
–The law in each country regarding the reporting of such allegations to civil authorities should be followed.
 
we just had a very high profile child porn case here recently where sting resulted in several arrests. One alleged perp, all were lay people, had a tenuous connection to a Catholic parish, which was featured as a back drop for TV film crews for several days reporting on the case. None of the churches of the others arrested was even mentioned. All cases have gone to trial with charges dismissed, suspended sentences, or probation. No one is in jail. All convicted (not accused) are registered sex offenders but are still living in their same areas. If the civil authority is going to treat this crime so lightly, why is the outcry in the media so loud? The same media that is carrying advertising for relailers, films and music that exploit children in ways that are soft porn if not worse.
 
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