[ncountylee]

Disgusting.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Detectives also are working with law enforcement in Pennsylvania and the Catholic Church, which removed Bender from the priesthood after he was convicted of abusing a teenage boy in the mid-1980s.

How SICK to read about a convicted former priest going after another boy...

He needs to be taken off the streets.

[Eagles6]

Notice that "Catholic priest" is prominent in the article though he was defrocked 20 years ago. 'Course the fact that he is a homosexual now is irrelevant.

[Clemenza]

Thomas Bender, 72, of Macungie, Pa., was arraigned yesterday in First District Court in Hempstead on five counts of first-degree disseminating indecent material to a minor and one count of attempting to commit a criminal sexual act.

This is in Cyborg's neighborhood. I wonder if he was going to meet the kid at the Home Depot.

(Home Depots were major gay cruising areas when I lived in Miami).

[T.L.Sink]

You and other readers may think I'm quibbling but there is no such thing as an "ex"- priest. One is a priest forever. A priest can be suspended, deposed from holy orders, and excommunicated. But he can never be ordained again. Because a valid, apostolic and canonically (the proper Form, Intention, etc.) rightful ordination confers indeliable character. Yes, he can be RESTORED to the ministry but NEVER ordained again. This has always been an inherent and permanent truth in the catholic theology of holy orders - it applies to all validly ordained deacons, priests, and consecrated bishops. This is commonly misunderstood but it's one of my pet peeves because I'm in orders. Thanks for your patience!

[JRios1968]

Thomas Bender, 72, of Macungie, Pa., was arraigned yesterday in First District Court in Hempstead on five counts of first-degree disseminating indecent material to a minor and one count of attempting to commit a criminal sexual act.

I have nothing to do with this...and if you don't believe me, you can kiss my shiny metal a...

[SengirV]

For a more complete account, you can go here - http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16357773&BRD=2626&PAG=461&dept_id=532624&rfi=6

This guy is a pure scum, but the Diocese of Allentown isn't much better. In accordance with their coverup policies, the Diocese of Allentown, upon learnig of the abuse, simply shuffled Father Bender off to another parish to hunt for new prey.

I knew the kid from the 1979-87 molestation. It ruined his life. The Diocese of Allentown KNEW about the molestation, which prompted his move in 1985, BUT NEVER TOLD THE PARENTS. Good job "Thomas our Bishop".

[cubreporter]

Dirty, filthy pervert.

[tonycavanagh]

re :Since September 2004, cops said, he engaged in online conversations with a detective who was posing as a teenager.

This is great news. enough busts like this will frighten of other sick perverts from trying out there sick fantasies

[Jimbaugh]

Go to http://www.rcf.org the priest pervert problem is still going on.

[edcoil]

"Thomas Bender, 72, of Macungie, Pa., was arraigned yesterday in First District Court in Hempstead on five counts of first-degree disseminating indecent material to a minor and one count of attempting to commit a criminal sexual act"

He is just bi-polar. Too bad he was not a teacher, the charges would be dropped.