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Priest Gets 20 Years in 1970s Sodomy [MO]
AP via TBO ^ | November 17, 2005

Posted on 11/17/2005 4:27:30 PM PST by ncountylee

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A Roman Catholic priest was sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday for sodomizing a boy in the church rectory during the 1970s. The Rev. Thomas Graham, 72, was convicted in August.

Defense attorney Christian Goeke said he would challenge the constitutionality of the 1969 Missouri law used to prosecute Graham, who was not indicted until 2002.

Graham's lawyers contended that the statute of limitations had run out on the alleged crimes. But prosecutors cited a 36-year-old law that has no statute of limitations for "abominable and detestable crimes against nature."

Graham's case has been seen as a test of that old law. Prosecutors said at least one other case is waiting on the outcome.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 11/17/2005 4:27:30 PM PST by ncountylee
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To: ncountylee
Graham's lawyers contended that the statute of limitations had run out on the alleged crimes

They haven't ran out for his victims.
In my opinion this hideous, evil crime should be punishable by death.

2 posted on 11/17/2005 4:30:31 PM PST by jla (Proud Conservative-Purist)
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To: ncountylee

May he soon join Father Goeghan.


3 posted on 11/17/2005 4:33:09 PM PST by putupjob
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To: ncountylee
for sodomizing a boy in the church rectory...

You know....I alway thought that's why they called it a rectory....

4 posted on 11/17/2005 4:34:28 PM PST by Onelifetogive (* Sarcasm tag ALWAYS required. For some FReepers, sarcasm can NEVER be obvious enough.)
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To: ncountylee
"abominable and detestable crimes against nature"

Well, isn't that special.


5 posted on 11/17/2005 4:34:44 PM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: ncountylee

HOw is something like this proven?


6 posted on 11/17/2005 4:36:26 PM PST by Chickensoup (Turk...turk...turk....turk....turk...turkey!!!!!!)
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To: ncountylee

Where was Pope JPII during his 28-year tenure during which time the clergy in the United States became homofied? Asleep?


7 posted on 11/17/2005 4:38:03 PM PST by Pittsburg Phil
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To: ncountylee

Where was Pope JPII during his 28-year tenure during which time the clergy in the United States became homofied? Asleep?


8 posted on 11/17/2005 4:38:09 PM PST by Pittsburg Phil
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To: ncountylee

[MO] seems obvious


9 posted on 11/17/2005 4:38:27 PM PST by InvisibleChurch (The search for someone to blame is always successful. - Robert Half)
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To: ncountylee

HOw is something like this proven?


10 posted on 11/17/2005 4:40:22 PM PST by Chickensoup (Turk...turk...turk....turk....turk...turkey!!!!!!)
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To: ncountylee

S9odomized in the rectory?

*snicker*


11 posted on 11/17/2005 4:42:52 PM PST by hail to the chief (Use your conservatism liberally)
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To: Onelifetogive

I know you think that was funny but trust me. It was not.


12 posted on 11/17/2005 4:57:48 PM PST by cubreporter (I trust Rush. He's done more for our country than we will ever know. He's the man!)
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To: cubreporter

"I know you think that was funny but trust me. It was not."

Yes it was...


13 posted on 11/17/2005 5:02:13 PM PST by babygene (Viable after 87 trimesters)
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To: Pittsburg Phil

John Paul II had a tendency to not believe claims of homosexuality against priests, since that was an old Communist trick to discredit the priesthood in Poland.


14 posted on 11/17/2005 5:24:49 PM PST by GAB-1955 (The U.S. Coast Guard started shooting at Frenchmen in 1790. As always, they set the trends.)
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To: GAB-1955
"John Paul II had a tendency to not believe claims of homosexuality against priests, since that was an old Communist trick to discredit the priesthood in Poland."

Is that really true? I have not run into it before. If so, it does clear up what was a bit of a mystery to me. I have a lot of admiration and respect for John Paul II, and could not reconcile the many bad appointments as bishops and cardinals in this country plus the abuse scandals with his obvious intelligence, capability, bravery, and honesty.

15 posted on 11/17/2005 5:31:39 PM PST by Irene Adler
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To: babygene

You THINK it was. It was NOT.


16 posted on 11/17/2005 9:49:39 PM PST by cubreporter (I trust Rush. He's done more for our country than we will ever know. He's the man!)
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To: ncountylee

"...abominable and detestable crimes against nature."

Has the prosecutor committed a hate crime for passing judgment on homosexual behavior? Perhaps some "sensitivity training" may be in order.


17 posted on 11/17/2005 10:05:09 PM PST by CALawyer
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To: cubreporter

"You THINK it was. It was NOT."

It "was NOT" if you are a catholic priest...

However, I ams a Catholic, my wife is a Catholic, my kids are both Catholic and my four grandkids are Catholic (pretty cool huh?). Do you know how hard that is today with that crap going on?

These SOB perverts let me down. They let my family down.

Trust me, it was funny.


18 posted on 11/17/2005 10:48:54 PM PST by babygene (Viable after 87 trimesters)
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To: ncountylee

20 years in jail sounds like he is being thrown into the briar patch.


19 posted on 11/17/2005 10:53:30 PM PST by Walkingfeather
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