William Lynch Found Not Guilty in Beating of Priest He Said Sexually Abused Him

[OLofMtCarmel]

If true, I don’t really blame the guy.

I suspect that if this victim were just plain ol’ Joe, folks around here would be singing a different tune.

Speaking as an abuse victim, there is no excuse for his actions. However, he is already paying for his crime. The crime against him probably ruined his life. But taking revenge is never helpful or good.

As a father, if someone abused my children, I’d gladly take care of it and turn myself in with a full written and signed confession. After what I went through (and still going through) I don’t want my child/ren going through what I go through. It’s a daily journey.

Best solution is pray for him. He probably has a hole in his chest the size of the Holy Spirit.

 

[Not_Sure_1]

That’s not the jury’s job. The jury’s job is to determine if the law was broken, beyond the threshold of a reasonable doubt. If they can prove that it was, then they must convict.

If the Jesuit priest abused the man as a boy, that should have gone to court at that time. If the boy was abused, It was a miscarriage of justice if it did not.

The problem is that the Church was able to stone-wall the system before 2002. That has upset a lot of people. The people who were involved in stone-walling the system should have known better. These things do have huge and very negative social consequences. Perhaps they thought they could continue the way they had forever? I don’t know. I’m not sure what they thought might happen. It’s been one of the Church’s biggest DUH moments in recent history.

I don’t justify the man but The Jury can actually also judge the law.
Ever heard of Jury Nullification.

 

[Corki]

I don’t justify the man but The Jury can actually also judge the law.
Ever heard of Jury Nullification.

Jury nullification isn’t a judgement of the law. It is when a jury decides that the defendant is technically guilty but does not deserve to be punished. It used to happen from time to time when white men were being charged with raping black girls. They were guilty of the crime but the white jury didn’t want the defendant to go to jail.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

The jury convicted the priest as if they knew for certain that he had done this thing. They convicted him and decided that violence was justified in this case. This is not justice.

 

[Irishgal49]

sacrilege against the wicked. Let me catch a priest doing such things to my or any other kid and he would see some sacrilege.

All molesters are monsters but a priest abusing his holy office is just. . . . something special. . . . something in need of special attention.

I’m with you, but this is many years later and to me, serves no purpose. What is beating up an old man accomplishing? You had years to sue him, confront him, all of sudden you can beat him up when he is frail? What the priest did was beyond reprehensible. But waiting all this time and then beating him, a crime. Two crimes don’t cancel each other out.

 

[Not_Sure_1]

Jury nullification isn’t a judgement of the law. It is when a jury decides that the defendant is technically guilty but does not deserve to be punished. It used to happen from time to time when white men were being charged with raping black girls. They were guilty of the crime but the white jury didn’t want the defendant to go to jail.

A better example (and a more fair one --no need to bring up racism), is during prohibition where the jury would rule a defendant not guilty because the jury did not agree with the law. The man was caught drinking, but the jury would declare him not guilty anyway.

This judgement of the law, and the rampant crime, led to the end of prohibition.

 

[Not_Sure_1]

sacrilege against the wicked. Let me catch a priest doing such things to my or any other kid and he would see some sacrilege.

All molesters are monsters but a priest abusing his holy office is just. . . . something special. . . . something in need of special attention.

Do you have proof that this priest molested a child? Was he tried and convicted?

 

[Rand_Al_Thor]

A better example (and a more fair one --no need to bring up racism), is during prohibition where the jury would rule a defendant not guilty because the jury did not agree with the law. The man was caught drinking, but the jury would declare him not guilty anyway.

This judgement of the law, and the rampant crime, led to the end of prohibition.

That is not a better example. Violation of the prohibition law was not a violent crime against another person. What Lynch did was assault someone for something that had occurred 20 years before. And this was not even running into his abuser at random and assaulting him in the heat of the moment. He sought him out at a retirement home and assaulted him.

Are you advocating an end to assault laws?

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Do you have proof that this priest molested a child? Was he tried and convicted?

The jury actually tried the priest and found him guilty, which should have invalidated their verdict immediately. The judge also failed the justice system. This should not have happened. No one really knows whether the priest even committed any molestation at all. If he did, then it should have been dealt with another way, not by assault.

If this is how the nation’s justice system is going, then by extension, I could look up anyone in my past who treated me wrong and simply go kill that person. All I have to say is, “He molested me,” or “He raped me.” What have we come to??

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

The jury actually tried the priest and found him guilty, which should have invalidated their verdict immediately. The judge also failed the justice system. This should not have happened. No one really knows whether the priest even committed any molestation at all. If he did, then it should have been dealt with another way, not by assault.

Vigilantism is NEVER justified.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Vigilantism is NEVER justified.

Good, glad we agree on something!

 

[nordskoven]

Equity courts were formed by the Catholic Church as part of the Inquisition. So beneficial were the Courts of Equity that people protested when they were dissolved after limited but egregious excesses in the Inquisition process. Equity courts were adapted by civil institutions; and a few American states have equity courts today. The principle of equity gives latitude to what were then and are today “letter of the law” interpretations that would not effect justice.

The British Star Chambers were a civil offshoot instituted to bring justice when powerful and influential people were involved; and where their clout would have made them virtually above the law if tried by courts run by cowering local yokels. The Star Chambers were later abused and protecting the elite from justice in their secret proceedings. This system may be paralleled in the NDAA/National Defense Appropriations Act provisions for vacating the privilege of a writ of habeas corpus; and detention of suspects in secret and without trial. The Bill of Rights/10th amendment insures these freedoms.
tenthamendmentcenter.com/2012/02/06/ndaa-sections-1021-and-1022-scary-potential/

The jury rightly acted in the Catholic spirit of equity in giving consideration to the fact that this was not a pre-meditated assault; and the nature of the violent rape and forced sexual assault of a second juvenile by the assailant/victim upon his brother, provided the basis for a jury to find him not guilty. The assailant’s punching his predator in the face is a reasonable man’s response to the renewed sexualizing of their encounter with the priest’s leering. No actions were taken by the assailant to evade justice; and he was willing to take full responsibility for what he did.

The assaulted man still has recourse to civil court, which would generally be counseled as the assailant has confessed to his crime. But a jury finding the assailant innocent in the criminal case makes this ill-advised.

There were thirteen bishops who refused to vote for the Dallas Charter because the weak apology was larded with accomodations for Golden Parachute retirement plans for priestly pederasts like this man enjoys at the largesse of the Jesuit Order and ultimately the supportive laity. The Catholic Church in America is estimated to have granted three billion dollars / $3,000,000,000.00 in reparations to victims of sexual predator-clerics. This has come with a catch, as virtually all victims are constrained by gag orders to never reveal the perpetrator’s identity or the nature of his crimes. These pay-outs may be considered self-serving pay-offs with these gag orders buying silence. The USCCB has never accounted for the monies or the perpetrators or the nature of the sexual violence of which they are accused.

Characterizing the acquittal of a man who, in the heat of the moment, punched out a leering child rapist (as substantiated by a previous hefty pay-off) as an attack on all priests would logically lead to the characterization of all priests as anti-child. The laity needs to turn around and demand an Inquisition.

 

[fix]

The jury rightly acted in the Catholic spirit of equity in giving consideration to the fact that this was not a pre-meditated assault; and the nature of the violent rape and forced sexual assault of a second juvenile by the assailant/victim upon his brother, provided the basis for a jury to find him not guilty.

How is that in the Catholic spirit? Why was the man there in the first place? Chance encounter? Did he seek him out?

The assailant’s punching his predator in the face is a reasonable man’s response to the renewed sexualizing of their encounter with the priest’s leering. No actions were taken by the assailant to evade justice; and he was willing to take full responsibility for what he did.

He broke a just law. Intending to violate a law and then claiming responsibility does not negate the evil intent. It is a bad idea to send out to Catholic people that such behavior is consistent with the faith.

There were thirteen bishops who refused to vote for the Dallas Charter because the weak apology was larded with accomodations for Golden Parachute retirement plans for priestly pederasts like this man enjoys at the largesse of the Jesuit Order and ultimately the supportive laity. The Catholic Church in America is estimated to have granted three billion dollars / $3,000,000,000.00 in reparations to victims of sexual predator-clerics. This has come with a catch, as virtually all victims are constrained by gag orders to never reveal the perpetrator’s identity or the nature of his crimes. These pay-outs may be considered self-serving pay-offs with these gag orders buying silence. The USCCB has never accounted for the monies or the perpetrators or the nature of the sexual violence of which they are accused.

And how is this different from any other such agreements that happen all the time to non Church people?

Characterizing the acquittal of a man who, in the heat of the moment, punched out a leering child rapist (as substantiated by a previous hefty pay-off) as an attack on all priests would logically lead to the characterization of all priests as anti-child. The laity needs to turn around and demand an Inquisition.

Attempting to diminish a bad act is not consistent with Catholic theology.

 

[iloveangels]

I don’t justify the man but The Jury can actually also judge the law.
Ever heard of Jury Nullification.

Juries don’t pass laws. At. All. That’s not their purpose and it’s not their place in society. Legislatures pass laws.

 

[iloveangels]

The jury actually tried the priest and found him guilty, which should have invalidated their verdict immediately. The judge also failed the justice system. This should not have happened. No one really knows whether the priest even committed any molestation at all. If he did, then it should have been dealt with another way, not by assault.

If this is how the nation’s justice system is going, then by extension, I could look up anyone in my past who treated me wrong and simply go kill that person. All I have to say is, “He molested me,” or “He raped me.” What have we come to??

Correct. It’s a breakdown of the law. But so was the failure to try the priest for the sexual abuse in the first place.

It’s probably too late to do anything legally about the sexual abuse, which is too bad. This sort of thing has to be reported promptly in the future and dealt with properly according to the law. Society can’t put up with this, and no one is above the law.

But the beating was wrong and should have been condemned. They’re both deplorable situations and illegal.

Everything in the Catholic Church runs on donated money, except those organizations that have ownership of hospitals and so on. It’s how the system works. It’s each person’s decision what organizations and orders deserve your donations and/or your business. It’s just that simple.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Correct. It’s a breakdown of the law. But so was the failure to try the priest for the sexual abuse in the first place.

It’s probably too late to do anything legally about the sexual abuse, which is too bad. **This sort of thing has to be reported promptly in the future and dealt with properly according to the law. ** Society can’t put up with this, and no one is above the law.

But the beating was wrong and should have been condemned. They’re both deplorable situations and illegal.

Everything in the Catholic Church runs on donated money, except those organizations that have ownership of hospitals and so on. It’s how the system works. It’s each person’s decision what organizations and orders deserve your donations and/or your business. It’s just that simple.

It isn’t going on into the future, because pedophiles are no longer admitted into seminaries. There are very heavy psychological screenings that take place - no pedophile could make it through seminary. Other institutions in society have no such screenings, so your warning is more appropriate to sports coaches, other churches, teachers, etc.

At the time these molestations were happening, there wasn’t as much known about pedophilia as there is know. It was thought to be curable. It was thought to be treatable. Only over time have psychologists recognized that pedophilia isn’t really curable after all. The Church has been accountable for the priests who have molested, and although it is a horrendous tragedy, the actual numbers are VERY small. Compared with how many molestations happen throughout society, to focus on the Church the way the media has, is dishonest of them and shows their anti-Catholic bias.

 

[iloveangels]

It isn’t going on into the future, because pedophiles are no longer admitted into seminaries. There are very heavy psychological screenings that take place - no pedophile could make it through seminary. Other institutions in society have no such screenings, so your warning is more appropriate to sports coaches, other churches, teachers, etc.

A. Over 90% of the perpetrators were NOT pedophiles.

B. Coaches and other people who work with minors are often involved in this sort of thing too. People who have moral problems with teenagers and pre-teens tend to gravitate toward professions where they will have occasions be intimate with them for a reason. They groom them and then molest them. It’s part of the profile. A certain number of teachers, camp counselors, school counselors, sunday school teachers, protestant ministers, scout leaders, etc etc fall into this category simply because their inner urges cause them gravitate towards these situations.

C. Tests or no tests, these people are usually very crafty and personable, charismatic and convincing. It’s part of the profile. I don’t have the huge faith that they’ll all be pre-empted that you apparently do.

At the time these molestations were happening, there wasn’t as much known about pedophilia as there is know. It was thought to be curable. It was thought to be treatable. Only over time have psychologists recognized that pedophilia isn’t really curable after all. The Church has been accountable for the priests who have molested, and although it is a horrendous tragedy, the actual numbers are VERY small. Compared with how many molestations happen throughout society, to focus on the Church the way the media has, is dishonest of them and shows their anti-Catholic bias.

Again, this wasn’t pedophilia in almost all of the cases. In most cases, it was statutory homosexual rape. It’s always been against the law. And it’s always been wrong. And people who commit these kinds of crimes are very unlikely to stop once they begin, for a lot of reasons. This has been known for a long time.

 

[ringil]

The jury actually tried the priest and found him guilty, which should have invalidated their verdict immediately. The judge also failed the justice system. This should not have happened. No one really knows whether the priest even committed any molestation at all. If he did, then it should have been dealt with another way, not by assault.

If this is how the nation’s justice system is going, then by extension, I could look up anyone in my past who treated me wrong and simply go kill that person. All I have to say is, “He molested me,” or “He raped me.” What have we come to??

Only glossing over the situation I notice that the priest has had several unrelated individuals accuse him of abuse over the years.

 

[iloveangels]

A. Over 90% of the perpetrators were NOT pedophiles.

B. Coaches and other people who work with minors are often involved in this sort of thing too. People who have moral problems with teenagers and pre-teens tend to gravitate toward professions where they will have occasions be intimate with them for a reason. They groom them and then molest them. It’s part of the profile. A certain number of teachers, camp counselors, school counselors, sunday school teachers, protestant ministers, scout leaders, youth ministers, etc etc fall into this category simply because their inner urges cause them gravitate towards these situations.

C. Tests or no tests, these people are usually very crafty and personable, charismatic and convincing. It’s part of the profile. I don’t have the huge faith that they’ll all be pre-empted that you apparently do.

Again, this wasn’t pedophilia in almost all of the cases. In most cases, it was statutory homosexual rape. It’s always been against the law. And it’s always been wrong. And people who commit these kinds of crimes are very unlikely to stop once they begin, for a lot of reasons. This has been known for a long time.

 

[iloveangels]

It isn’t going on into the future, because pedophiles are no longer admitted into seminaries. There are very heavy psychological screenings that take place - no pedophile could make it through seminary. Other institutions in society have no such screenings, so your warning is more appropriate to sports coaches, other churches, teachers, etc.

At the time these molestations were happening, there wasn’t as much known about pedophilia as there is know. It was thought to be curable. It was thought to be treatable. Only over time have psychologists recognized that pedophilia isn’t really curable after all. The Church has been accountable for the priests who have molested, and although it is a horrendous tragedy, the actual numbers are VERY small. Compared with how many molestations happen throughout society, to focus on the Church the way the media has, is dishonest of them and shows their anti-Catholic bias.

PS. Denial isn’t only a river in Egypt.