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Catholic priest blames children for sexual abuse
Digital Journal ^ | 8-31-2012 | Greta McClain

Posted on 09/08/2012 5:07:45 AM PDT by Renfield

New York - A prominent Catholic priest says he believes “youngsters” are often to blame for sexual abuse by priests and that priests who are first time offenders should not be jailed for their crime.

Father Benedict Groeschel, founder of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, is well known as the host of Sunday Night Prime with Father Benedict Groeschel, a weekly show on Catholic television network EWTN. It was not what he said on his television show that has sparked controversy however, it is comments he made in an interview with the National Catholic Register that has outraged many. According to a UPI report, Groeschel told the newspaper

"People have this picture in their minds of a person planning to -- a psychopath. But that's not the case. Suppose you have a man having a nervous breakdown, and a youngster comes after him. A lot of the cases, the youngster -- 14, 16, 18 -- is the seducer."....

(Excerpt) Read more at digitaljournal.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: agendadrivenfreeper; groeschel; pedophilia; priests; yellowjournalism
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To: narses

“LOL, so you have zero reason to call for this “investigation” except you know people. Sad.”

That’s not what I told you, and your “LOL” is particularly disturbing what you were told.

No matter. You cannot refute that “this is classic sexual predator psychology”, can you?

I’m suggesting that this should give the mans superiors pause and that they should, in the interests of finding victims, look into it. Perhaps they already are, I don’t know.

Nonetheless, his statement IS classic sexual predator psychology. It’s not even an arguable point.


81 posted on 09/08/2012 2:05:29 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: RFEngineer

“Excusing child molestation cannot be absolved with an “I’m sorry”.”

I’m just sick to death of that kind of crap. There are so many false-flag posters on FR now that it’s hardly better than DU.

His remarks in no way sought to excuse child molestation—not by any stretch of the imagination.

I’ll go further: no one of normal intelligence could honestly think they did.

I have six children. I would not hesitate to protect them or anyone else’s children from a molester using...ahem...the minimum amount of force necessary.

This does not mean that I am willing to ignore or deny *any* part of the truth. If the truth is that a priest was too weak, too messed up, too whatever to resist a persistent teenager, then that is the truth.

That particular truth does not excuse child molestation. However, the ages he mentioned—14, 16, 18—are post-pubescent, and so would be cases of statutory rape, not child molestation.


82 posted on 09/08/2012 2:47:19 PM PDT by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: RFEngineer

“No matter. You cannot refute that “this is classic sexual predator psychology”, can you?”

Refute utter nonsense? Easy, I refute it. It is armchair phosphates from the land of bigotry and ignorance. And it is laughable.


83 posted on 09/08/2012 2:55:26 PM PDT by narses
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To: narses

“It is armchair phosphates from the land of bigotry and ignorance. And it is laughable.”

Really? Well unfortunately it’s also the way it is.

So what are your particular credentials in this area, since you asked mine (and can’t read between the lines)?


84 posted on 09/08/2012 4:43:30 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: RFEngineer

“...read between the lines)?”

Oh I did, your bigotry roared. Very sad.


85 posted on 09/08/2012 5:13:03 PM PDT by narses
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To: James C. Bennett
Or is ‘brain damaged’ being used as a convenient vehicle to excuse the man’s absurd rationalisations regarding paedophilia?

You are no doubt correct - the man faked his accident and brain damage for the express purpose of being able to get away with making gross rationalizations. I'm suspicious of Stephen Hawking as well - how do we really "know" he is paralyzed? They both should be executed.

86 posted on 09/08/2012 5:40:58 PM PDT by Hacksaw (If I had a son, he'd look like George Zimmerman.)
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To: narses

“Oh I did, your bigotry roared. Very sad.”

Oh, nonsense. You disagree with me that the statement is typical sexual predator psychology. You need not personalize that, even though you are wrong.

Hair-trigger charges of bigotry just make folks look foolish.

Did you have any other specious charges to impart that are unrelated to the subject of the thread?


87 posted on 09/08/2012 5:46:25 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: RFEngineer
Oh, nonsense. You disagree with me that the statement is typical sexual predator psychology.
Babble babble, you admit to no expertise and now you want to claim it. Sorry, you are clueless. And a bigot by your words. Get over yourself, your bigotry is on display for all to see.
88 posted on 09/08/2012 6:03:43 PM PDT by narses
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To: narses

“Babble babble, you admit to no expertise and now you want to claim it. Sorry, you are clueless. And a bigot by your words. Get over yourself, your bigotry is on display for all to see.”

Nonsense, to the last word of this post.

Now do you have anything thread-relevant to impart?


89 posted on 09/08/2012 6:05:48 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: Hacksaw

LOL, and while you’re at it, you should also jump off that runaway train of thought before it’s too late...


90 posted on 09/08/2012 6:17:15 PM PDT by James C. Bennett (An Australian.)
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To: RFEngineer
Legitimate questions of “Did this guy molest anyone” can be raised,

Absolutely. Saying that the child was responsible for seducing them is a classic defense from a child molestor. Anyone who says that raises a huge red flag. I guess he could be repeating what he's heard from other molestors trying to defend themselves.

91 posted on 09/08/2012 6:25:43 PM PDT by JediJones (Grow your own dope...plant a Democrat.)
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To: RFEngineer

Nonsense? That would be your schtick. You want to make a criminal case out of this biased and out of date news article. You need help.


92 posted on 09/08/2012 6:27:37 PM PDT by narses
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To: narses

“You want to make a criminal case...”

Yet another extrapolation of nonsense. I said no such thing. You could care less, of course, as you wish to have your own argument. Carry on, by all means.


93 posted on 09/08/2012 6:30:21 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: dsc
However, the ages he mentioned—14, 16, 18—are post-pubescent, and so would be cases of statutory rape, not child molestation.

Age 18 wouldn't be any kind of rape and 16 might not be in some states. But him throwing the ages in there the way he did, it sounds like a way to "soft sell" his argument which was really meant to apply to younger ages. Sounds like he felt he was losing the argument at that point and tried to backpedal it to older ages.

94 posted on 09/08/2012 6:30:34 PM PDT by JediJones (Grow your own dope...plant a Democrat.)
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To: James C. Bennett

I can tell you that when he had a stroke a few years ago he began speaking with expressive aphasia.


95 posted on 09/08/2012 6:52:33 PM PDT by stanne
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To: Last Dakotan

70 Years of service.


96 posted on 09/08/2012 6:53:14 PM PDT by stanne
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To: James C. Bennett

His record is suc that he deserves serious proof when accused of wrongdoing.

there are no live saints, only those who die in hoiness are saints.

You all are too hateful toward the Church.

I suspect that you don’t get out in the public eye and take risks such as Fr. groeschel has done, otherwise you might have the mercy you woould expect from others.

I can tell you in the many years I’ve known of Fr. Groeschel he has never hinted at being as unforgiving, judgemental and unmerciful as you.

someday you may sufferthe same from other people.

Ease up.


97 posted on 09/08/2012 6:58:41 PM PDT by stanne
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To: dsc
There are so many false-flag posters on FR now that it’s hardly better than DU.

One of the most truthful statements I have heard lately,dear friend!

98 posted on 09/09/2012 8:33:59 AM PDT by stfassisi ((The greatest gift God gives us is that of overcoming self"-St Francis Assisi)))
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To: RFEngineer

Yawn. Bigotry is sooo boring.


99 posted on 09/09/2012 11:07:05 AM PDT by narses
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To: narses

“Yawn. Bigotry is sooo boring.”

Of course it is, when it’s in your head, and nobody cares.


100 posted on 09/09/2012 2:19:38 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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