Way back when I was writing about Cardinal Law and the coverup by the archdiocese in Boston, I was in favor of using RICO to go after the church for their systematic hiding of pedophiles.
Connecticut’s Catholic Church is charged with racketeering in a suit that claims church officials covered up alleged sex abuse by priests, documents say.
The suit, brought by a New London, Conn., attorney, cites the leadership of the Norwich, Conn., Diocese with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act — more commonly known as RICO — for allegedly conspiring to keep reported child sex abuse by priests quiet, The Hartford Courant reported Wednesday.
The suit names former Bishop Daniel Reilly and its current vicar general, the Rev. Thomas McBride, as culpable under RICO for alleged child sex abuse committed by the late the Rev. Thomas Shea, who was accused of sexually abusing at least 16 girls in the 11 parishes within the Norwich Diocese.
That shit goes all the way to the top. No way, no how would the Nazi Pope (what? what?) enter this country without immediately getting cuffed, stuffed, and subjected to Due Process.
this Confirmed Roman Catholic sez: ’bout fucking time!!
If you purport to be an Authority on Morality (capital and little ‘m’), then you *must* be responsible for that Authority.
The RC Church does not (and hasn’t for some centuries, IMO) acted with the responsibility that they demand from their adherents. To me, this abdication of responsible Authority means they deserve neither Authority nor Responsibility….
‘Hangin’s too good fer ‘em, throw the bums *oot*!’
This is one of the rare places where I am 100% in agreement with Oliver. Bernard Law should have gone to prison, not given a promotion and taken to the Vatican — where he had a place of honor for John Paul II’s funeral. And the Church got off way, way, WAY too easily for its heinous sins against the most vulnerable, those with whom it was entrusted.
That being said, ed needs to be educated a little. The current Pope was enlisted in the Hitler Youth at age 14 when it was mandatory for all his age. Further, he deserted at his first opportunity at a time when such a deed was punishable by death. Benedict/Ratzinger might have been peripherally involved in the sex abuse coverups, but his World War II history (he turned 18 about 3 weeks before Germany surrendered) is not one that he should be condemned for.
He’s done a LOT of good since then, too. He was a key figure in the rapprochement between Jews and Catholics, between the Vatican and Israel. And just look at the stance he’s taken against radical Islam — this is no meek and mild shepherd, like the Church of England, this guy is a Defender of the Faith who has no problem telling Muslims that his church won’t be walked all over.
As an agnostic who has a deep and abiding distrust of the Catholic Church, this is one Pope I’m glad to see. Even if he is completely backwards on issues involving women — as long as Catholic membership is entirely voluntary, and they don’t try to get the government to enforce their tenets, they have the right to be as wrong as they like. But the guy is doing OK on most of the big issues, trying to bring what power the Church still has on the side of right, and that has to be applauded.
J.
[...] (link via Oliver Willis) [...]