Posted on 02/07/2005 6:17:10 PM PST by NativeTexun
07:47 PM CST on Monday, February 7, 2005 Associated Press
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Defrocked priest Paul Shanley, the most notorious figure in the sex scandal that rocked the Boston Archdiocese, was convicted Monday of raping and fondling a boy at his Roman Catholic church during the 1980s.
The conviction on all four charges gives prosecutors a high-profile victory in their effort to bring pedophile priests to justice for decades of abuse at parishes around the country.
Mr. Shanley, 74, could get life in prison for two counts each of child rape and indecent assault and battery on a child when he is sentenced Feb. 15. His bail was revoked, and he was immediately led off to jail.
The victim, 27, put his head down and sobbed as the verdicts were announced after a trial that turned on the reliability of what he said were recovered memories of the long-ago abuse. Mr. Shanley showed no emotion as he stood next to his attorneys.
"There are no winners today. There are only losers," his niece, Teresa Shanley, said as her uncle was led from the courtroom. "We're no closer to finding out the truth about this scandal or finding out what happened."
During the trial, the accuser broke down on the stand as he testified in graphic detail that Mr. Shanley pulled him out of Sunday morning catechism classes and raped and groped him in the church bathroom, the rectory, the confessional and the pews starting when he was 6.
"It felt awful," he testified. "He told me nobody would ever believe me if I told anybody."
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(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
ping
"We're no closer to finding out the truth" HUH? I believe the TRUTH has been told - what part didn't you understand?
He harmed so many where the statutes of limitations has made prosecution impossible..I watched part of this trial and worried...Thank heavens they got him and he will go to prison.
He is a very twisted man whose charisma made his abuse easier.
What part of "vow of celibacy" is so hard for these priests to understand?
I do believe i would shoot anyone who used such a position of trust to hurt my kid..
You do and you'll be goin to prison right along with em.
Well, thank you for posting this I suppose.
I believe it is a natural impulse, but on reflection, you would deprive your child of your presence and that would hurt the child and land you in jail.
Not here in Texas. We have a "He needed ta be kilt'" law down here.
For example, there was a case about 10 years ago where a Karate instructor ran off with a boy to California. He was caught, and was being returned through the airport in handcuffs with deputies all around him. He walked past a bank of phones, to see the boy's Dad put a pistol against his head and shoot him, in front of cameras, police and whatever witnesses were present.
He later said he wasn't sorry, he'd do it again, and that it was something 'He just had to do'. The jury aquitted him, and he's a free man. I like laws like that.
They may have asquitted him but we no longer have a "he needed killing" law.
Well, I do know that.
Still, I'd be tempted.
When did this happen? I thought that was still on the books.
http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2005-02-01/encyclopedia
Texas Myth #714
Anne Dingus solves the state’s greatest mysteries.
by Anne Dingus
IF A TEXAN CATCHES HIS WIFE AND HER LOVER IN THE ACT, HE CAN KILL THE MAN AND GET AWAY SCOT-FREE.
Shoot, no; today such a lethally jealous husband would likely face a charge of murder in the second degree (the heat of anger being an extenuating factor). But the so-called Paramour Law long existed; a macho remnant of Spanish colonial rule, it was standard practice in pre-Republic days and was cited as a reason for justifiable homicide in the state’s penal code until, unbelievably, 1974.
Subscribe now to read the rest of this story online
Hells yeah! Leave it to Texas to get something like that right.
They found this guy living in an apt. in San Diego,
8 blocks up the street from me
Awww, shucks ....
Well, if it ain't on the books; at least it's spirit lives on in the jury box.
I STILL want to know why no one questioned the Priest taking this child out of the class room all the time. I went to Catholic school from k-12 and believe you me...NO ONE (not even a Priest) took anybody out of our classroom much less as often as this guy did. Someone was LAX and in this case I would say the Sister should have questioned the Priest as to why he was removing this kid so often and if she didn't want to question the Priest she should have told the Mother Superior. SOMEONE should have looked out for this boy. SOMEONE failed this child and in this case it was the Sister for not speaking up (unless she did and was silenced) and then of course, the pedophile low life who committed these atrocities on this young man. Now he can have closure. Now the pedophile can have whatever the system dishes out to him I personally don't care. I care about the child. God bless him.
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