Replies

And how do you get a conviction when parents keep accepting payoffs to keep their children from testifying? Personally I think that should be a criminal offense, earning a long prison term. But it's widespread, and I've never heard of any legal action against the participants. The Catholic Church's payoffs to parents were systematic and involved both large sums of money and large numbers of children. I think all those parents, and any Church officials who authorized those payments, ought to be locked up right alongside the molesters.

Have you thought about what it would be like to spend, say, twelve years fighting a rich pedophile in court...while your child, who was molested, has to keep testifying, being attacked in court, being pursued by the media....

I'd take the money as the only justice I could reasonably hope to get, and spare my child the years-long legal ordeal which could only keep a shattered soul from healing. Since justice is not swift, taking payoffs and settling is the only reasonable option for people who face a wealthy, powerful, influential opponent.

It's not fair to tar as criminal people who make a decision to spare their families years of combat that they might just lose. Our legal system makes it easy for Michael Jacksons to win, and very hard for the little guy to even get a chance to present his case.

And how do you get a conviction when parents keep accepting payoffs to keep their children from testifying?

Greed is a powerful emotion and it is easy to justify. The parents can tell themselves the kid will get over the molestation a lot easier if he gets 32 million dollars. Being rich might be theraputic.