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Police Helped Toledo, Ohio, Diocese Conceal Sex Abuse Allegations Against Priests
AP ^ | AP-ES-07-31-05 1958EDT

Posted on 07/31/2005 5:28:18 PM PDT by TheOtherOne

Newspaper: Police Helped Toledo, Ohio, Diocese Conceal Sex Abuse Allegations Against Priests
The Associated Press
Published: Jul 31, 2005 TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Police helped the Catholic Diocese of Toledo cover up sex abuse allegations for several decades, refusing to investigate or arrest priests suspected of molesting children, a newspaper reported Sunday.

The (Toledo) Blade, relying on interviews with former officers and a review of court and diocese records, found at least five instances since the 1950s of police covering up allegations of abuse.

Four former officers said Police Chief Anthony Bosch, a Catholic who headed the Toledo department from 1956 to 1970, established an unwritten rule that priests could not be arrested.

"You would have been fired," said Gene Fodor, who served on the force between 1960 and 1981.

In some cases that resulted in charges, authorities blocked the release of files to the public. In others, priests were transferred to different churches or sent away for treatment.

The Rev. Robert Lamantia, who oversaw the transfer of a priest who was suspected of abusing a boy, said church officials knew police would not investigate.

"It doesn't look good today, but it wasn't part of our policy that this was considered to be a crime against youth and it had to be handled by police," Lamantia said.

Police told the newspaper much has changed since the sexual abuse crisis began unfolding in 2002 and insisted that priests suspected of crimes no longer receive special favors.

The diocese refused to discuss its relationship with law enforcement in the past, saying to talk about it now would only hurt abuse victims.

"Many (victims) who have responded have spoken of their anguish at each republication of previously published stories about their experiences and those of other survivors," Bishop Leonard Blair said in a statement.

After Bosch left the Toledo department, the cover-ups continued, the Blade reported. Bosch died in 1982.

Jim Richards, who worked as the diocesan spokesman from 1971 to 1995, said church leaders knew whom to call to keep cases quiet.

A retired police detective who also worked as a private investigator for the diocese said he did not file police reports about suspected priest abuse.

"I can tell you that there was always somebody they could go to in the police department," Sgt. John Connors said. "And I can tell you that, at one time, I was that man."

No priest was arrested for sexual abuse until 1984, when an officer found a priest in a mall restroom, receiving oral sex from a teenager, The Blade reported.

"I was not going to follow the department policy - not this time," said officer Bill Gray, who is now retired. After the arrest, Gray said he got harassing phone calls from his fellow officers.

After the priest was sentenced, the judge and prosecutors agreed to seal his record. Gray still maintains his own files, because he suspected the case might be hidden.

AP-ES-07-31-05 1958EDT


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: police; priests; sexabuse

1 posted on 07/31/2005 5:28:19 PM PDT by TheOtherOne
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To: TheOtherOne

Disgusting if true.


2 posted on 07/31/2005 5:30:43 PM PDT by dighton
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To: TheOtherOne

Police Chief Anthony Bosch is/was an absolute scam. Those poor young men deserved better.


3 posted on 07/31/2005 5:39:31 PM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: ncountylee; dighton
Yes, despicable.

Did you read the entire article?

It's (PC) despicable, too. Do you find the word homosexual?

4 posted on 07/31/2005 5:46:49 PM PDT by iconoclast ( "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive")
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To: iconoclast
No priest was arrested for sexual abuse until 1984, when an officer found a priest in a mall restroom, receiving oral sex from a teenager

You mean this wasn't an 18 year old girl?

5 posted on 07/31/2005 5:47:59 PM PDT by TheOtherOne (I often sacrifice my spelling on the alter of speed™)
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To: dighton

Four former officers said Police Chief Anthony Bosch, a Catholic who headed the Toledo department from 1956 to 1970, established an unwritten rule that priests could not be arrested.


there's no doubt that its true
it's not just Ohio I'm sure it has happened just about everywhere
this is a sympton of what happens when a persons position is valued more than their actions.
6 posted on 07/31/2005 5:55:07 PM PDT by grjr21
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To: TheOtherOne

Wonder if the priest was in uniform when caught?


7 posted on 07/31/2005 5:56:05 PM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: ncountylee
Wonder if the priest was in uniform when caught?

Leaving "uniform" aside, that might be the last thing I would be concerned about.

8 posted on 07/31/2005 5:59:59 PM PDT by iconoclast ( "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive")
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To: TheOtherOne
"I can tell you that there was always somebody they could go to in the police department," Sgt. John Connors said. "And I can tell you that, at one time, I was that man."

s.o.b. enabler and proud of it. How many kids were raped becuase of you, you slime.

9 posted on 07/31/2005 6:04:40 PM PDT by Zechariah11
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To: grjr21
I'm sure it has happened just about everywhere

Why?

This is just your typical annual Catholic bashing. It's becoming routine, same old same old, this one goes back to the 50's.

Get serious, move on, don't be duped by the repetitious propaganda.

10 posted on 07/31/2005 6:07:00 PM PDT by duckln
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To: duckln
This is just your typical annual Catholic bashing. It's becoming routine, same old same old, this one goes back to the 50's.

He's bashing crooked cops, not the pedophile priests.

11 posted on 07/31/2005 6:10:33 PM PDT by TheOtherOne (I often sacrifice my spelling on the alter of speed™)
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To: duckln
This is NOT Catholic bashing. Geesh!!! That type of attiutde of don't let the information (as was done by the police) enabled the criminal behavior to go on and on and on.

Is criticism about Jimmy Swaggert Christian bashing?

12 posted on 07/31/2005 6:17:11 PM PDT by Zechariah11
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To: TheOtherOne
Unreal. I hope this is false. Denny and/or Bob better discuss this tomorrow on WSPD.
13 posted on 07/31/2005 6:39:15 PM PDT by LeeHarvey
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