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Sex Abuse Victim Advocacy Group Calls for Grand Jury Investigation into KC Diocese
The Republic, Columbus, Indiana ^ | June 17, 2011 | AP

Posted on 06/23/2011 10:01:18 AM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Priest sex abuse victims are urging prosecutors in Jackson, Buchanan and Clay Counties to convene grand juries to investigate whether Catholic church hierarchy concealed crimes in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

In a letter dated Friday, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests also asked for the cancellation of a weekend march in support of Bishop Robert Finn.

Finn has apologized repeatedly for not taking action earlier in the case of a Kansas City-area priest charged with possessing child pornography.

A federal lawsuit claims the diocese and Finn tried to cover up the priest's crimes to save the church's reputation...

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


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; History; Moral Issues
KEYWORDS: moralabsolutes; pedophile; sex; sexualabuse
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

Luke 6:45

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.


21 posted on 06/23/2011 7:56:15 PM PDT by Judith Anne ( Holy Mary, Mother of God, please pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

Bishop Finn removes vicar general from abuse-case oversight

June 23, 2011

“Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City, Missouri has appointed a new priest to handle sex-abuse complaints.

The appointment of Father Joseph Powers as vicar for clergy removes the responsibility for abuse cases from the diocesan vicar general, Msgr. Robert Murphy, who faced intense criticism for his performance on that issue.

The appointment was announced on the same day that sex-abuse victims filed a lawsuit, charging that the diocese failed to comply with the terms of a settlement requiring disclosure of all sex-abuse complaints.

The criticism of the Kansas City diocese has centered on the failure to report complaints against Father Shawn Ratigan, who now faces criminal charges for child pornography.”

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=10771


22 posted on 06/23/2011 7:59:00 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: lastchance

Without lawyers and the power of the subpoena, nothing of these scandals would ever have come to light.

No wonder Rome trashes lawyers so relentlessly.


23 posted on 06/23/2011 7:59:12 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

Msgr. Robert Murphy

24 posted on 06/23/2011 8:02:24 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Dr. Scarpetta

Quick. Hide the silverware.


25 posted on 06/23/2011 8:03:23 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Judith Anne

Yes, to believe oneself to be “another Christ” does indeed give himself away as one who is far from God.


26 posted on 06/23/2011 8:07:32 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

The OPC is a pitiful, tiny, vicious cult which regards itself as superior to every other church in the world. It’s hard to believe there could be 10,000 souls so black and lost, maybe it’s only half of them.

Whatever, perhaps the Blessed Virgin will point them to my true Savior, Christ Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Risen Son of Almighty Living God.

Then, perhaps they will learn to be as grateful for unearned, unmerited salvation as the Catholics are.


27 posted on 06/23/2011 8:15:20 PM PDT by Judith Anne ( Holy Mary, Mother of God, please pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

KC diocese replaces vicar in charge of sex-abuse cases

“On June 9, The Star reported that Father Murphy himself had been accused of past sexual improprieties. A Kansas City psychologist wrote Finn four years ago, alleging sexual harassment by Murphy in 1984.”

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/22/2968777/diocese-replaces-vicar-in-charge.html#ixzz1Q9vB8a9N


28 posted on 06/23/2011 8:20:58 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Dr. Scarpetta

It never ends, does it?


29 posted on 06/23/2011 8:23:16 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

“Lawsuit alleges abuse of boys by monk at Conception Abbey”

By JUDY L. THOMAS

The Kansas City Star

Thu, Jun. 23, 2011

A Missouri man filed a lawsuit today against Conception Abbey in northwest Missouri, alleging a coverup of sexual abuse by a former monk who directed its boys’ choir in the late-1980s.

The lawsuit, filed in Nodaway County Circuit Court, claims that Bede Parry, then a Benedictine monk, molested the plaintiff in 1987 during a summer camp at the abbey. At the time, Parry led the Abbey Boy Choir of Conception Abbey.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/23/2969904/lawsuit-alleges-abuse-of-boys.html#ixzz1Q9yUsMa0


30 posted on 06/23/2011 8:34:26 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

Let’s see I wrote

“I would rather compensation dollars go to the victims and not lawyers. I do think victims have the right to sue and would encourage it. But SNAP fishes for victims and invites quite a bit of fraud knowing most Dioceses will settle instead of facing long drawn out lawsuits.

I really do wish that a more trustworthy group would begin advocating for the real victims.

So am I trashing all lawyes? No only those who go fishing for victims and are not above filing fraudalent claims. The fact that I wrote I think victims have the right to sue and encourage them to do so contradicts your claim. Since to me it is obvious you can not bring a suit like this without experienced lawyers involved. I favor good lawyers who truly are concerned with the victims. I don’t believe SNAP truly has the best interest of the victims at heart.


31 posted on 06/23/2011 8:48:21 PM PDT by lastchance ("Nisi credideritis, non intelligetis" St. Augustine)
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To: mockingbyrd

I agree. It makes me want to tear my hair out because it leaves too many children vulnerable. I mean don’t they (insert bad word here) get it? Pretty much we now know that contemporary understanding of true pedophiles and other sex criminals contradicts the earlier understanding dished out in past decades by so called experts.

THEY CAN NOT BE CURED. THEY BELONG IN JAIL. THE VICTIMS MATTER MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. TRUE SCANDAL IS CAUSED BY SILENCE. NEVER BE AFRAID OF THE TRUTH.


32 posted on 06/23/2011 8:52:33 PM PDT by lastchance ("Nisi credideritis, non intelligetis" St. Augustine)
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To: Dr. Scarpetta

You are welcome. Thank goodness this school principal had sense to know something was not right and put together this report.

This is a bit off subject but there is a great book called the “Gift of Fear” which is about trusting your instincts. She trusted her instincts and for that I believe she probably saved many children from abuse.


33 posted on 06/23/2011 8:54:42 PM PDT by lastchance ("Nisi credideritis, non intelligetis" St. Augustine)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

My daughter is single and probably will never marry. So by your defintion she is automatically headed for a life of perversion. Such twisted logic is beyond me.

By the way Jesus never married nor did St. Paul how does that square with your statement?


34 posted on 06/23/2011 8:57:09 PM PDT by lastchance ("Nisi credideritis, non intelligetis" St. Augustine)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

You know your statement is grossly insulting to women. If we are talking about true pedophiles you are suggesting that women become mastubatory substitutions for what these sickos truly desire. Can you not grasp how that is an affront to the dignity of women? That you suggest a woman embrace the role of being a cure for such a sickness. What are we come kind of reverse vibrator?

By the way many pedophiles are married so just how does that meet your statement?

You are entitled to your own opinion you are not entitled to your own facts.


35 posted on 06/23/2011 9:00:20 PM PDT by lastchance ("Nisi credideritis, non intelligetis" St. Augustine)
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To: lastchance
This is a bit off subject but there is a great book called the “Gift of Fear” which is about trusting your instincts.

I actually bought that book for my daughters and nieces!

36 posted on 06/23/2011 9:05:31 PM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

Perverts are perverts, no matter what. If they had wives and children, the perversion would remain in the home.

Not being married is not the problem, especially in this case, with child pornography. Yeah, wife ain’t gonna fix that.


37 posted on 06/23/2011 9:23:45 PM PDT by mockingbyrd
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

Perverts are perverts, no matter what. If they had wives and children, the perversion would remain in the home.

Not being married is not the problem, especially in this case, with child pornography. Yeah, wife ain’t gonna fix that.


38 posted on 06/23/2011 9:23:54 PM PDT by mockingbyrd
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To: Dr. Scarpetta

Good you gave them a great gift. I was reading about the Conception Abbey case. This statement by the lawyer alarms me and I wonder if it worries you too?

This is a grave institutional failure,” said Jeff Anderson, a Minnesota attorney who represents the plaintiff. “Bede Parry wasn’t able to control himself, but it was the abbot and the top officials who knew that and made the choice to protect themselves at the peril of many kids and young adults.”

The part that alarms me is his stating that “Bede Parry”
(the accused monk who is now an Episcopal Priest.) wasn’t able to control himself. I just don’t buy that and am concerned if that is the general attitude this attorney has regarding the perpetrators. This is not about deflecting blame from the wrong done by church officials but about those who really committed the crimes being held to account.

My niggling suspicion is that Parry has come out as gay.


39 posted on 06/23/2011 9:24:24 PM PDT by lastchance ("Nisi credideritis, non intelligetis" St. Augustine)
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To: Dr. Scarpetta

Here is an update on that case. The prior alleged abuse involved adult males or men between 16-18.

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/23/2971390/former-leader-of-boys-choir-at.html

“Most of the inappropriate sexual contact was with males over 18, Parry said. Two of the encounters, he said, involved males ages 16 to 18. He said he has not had inappropriate sexual relations since the 1987 incident.”

If you read the law suit you get an idea of how Anderson skates around the truth to make it out as if Parry was abusing young children. I don’t know the age of the plaintiff at the time of the abuse but in any case he should not have been put in a vulnerable position after it was known of Parry’s inappropriate sexual contact.

The article does not say if penetration was involved. In most states if sexual penetration was involved the incidents would be sexual battery if the sex was nonconsensual or statutory rape if it was consensual.

If no penetration was involved and the victims were 16 or older the contact would be sexual assault if such contact was non consensual. If it was consensual than no crime was committed. It does not read as if penetration was involved as I think the suit would make much more serious allegations regarding past incidents. I am assuming the contact with John Doe was non consensual and therefore sexual assault.

The question remains whether in the incidents prior to the one alleged in the suit the sexual relationships were consensual. If the contact was consensual and did not rise to the definition of statutory rape or sexual battery the Abbey can harldy be faulted for regardubg those incidents as only inappropriate sexual behavior.

Mind you if the contact was non consensual and therefore criminal the Abbey certainly is at fault for not taking the proper steps in dealing with Parry. Including reporting to the proper authorities.

Please remember this only applies if he had sexual contact with those 16 years of age or older. It is a whole another ball of wax if the victims were younger than 16.


40 posted on 06/23/2011 11:07:04 PM PDT by lastchance ("Nisi credideritis, non intelligetis" St. Augustine)
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