Posted on 01/18/2014 11:23:29 AM PST by Salvation
January 2, 2011 By TheMediaReport.com
In a stunning ten-page declaration recently submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court, veteran attorney Donald H. Steier stated that his investigations into claims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests have uncovered vast fraud and that his probes have revealed that many accusations are completely false.
Counselor Steier has played a role in over one hundred investigations involving Catholic clergy in Los Angeles. In his missive Mr. Steier relayed:
"One retired F.B.I. agent who worked with me to investigate many claims in the Clergy Cases told me, in his opinion, about ONE-HALF of the claims made in the Clergy Cases were either entirely false or so greatly exaggerated that the truth would not have supported a prosecutable claim for childhood sexual abuse."
(Capital letters are Steier's)
Mr. Steier also added, "In several cases my investigation has provided objective information that could not be reconciled with the truthfulness of the subjective allegations. In other words, in many cases objective facts showed that accusations were false."
Mr. Steier's declaration is a stunner. He is as experienced as anyone in studying the claims of abuse against Catholic clergy in the Los Angeles area. Also among Steier's eye-opening statements:
Steier signed and submitted the declaration "under penalty of perjury" November 30, 2010. Los Angeles County Superior Court officially filed it at 11 a.m. on December 15, 2010.
Steier also took aim at the outspoken advocacy group SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests):
They maintain an interactive Internet website with a user 'Forum' and 'Message Board,' among other features, where people can share detailed information between alleged victims pertaining to identity of specific alleged perpetrators, their alleged 'modus operandi,' and other details of alleged molestation. In effect, a person who wanted to make a false claim of sexual abuse by a priest could go to that website and find a 'blueprint' of factual allegations to make that would coincide with allegations made by other people. Law enforcement also uses the S.N.A.P. website to attempt to locate new victims and allegations against Catholic priests.
Needless to say, SNAP had a fit at the sight of Steier's declaration. In a frantic press statement dated December 13, 2010, SNAP derided Steier's declaration as a "legal maneuver" that was "among the most outrageous and hurtful ever made by a church defense lawyer." In addition to claiming it will file a complaint with the California Bar Association, it demanded that Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony "denounce Steier's claims and to disclose how much archdiocesan money has been paid to Steier." (Gee, the last time I checked, SNAP steadfastly refused to divulge how much of its income is derived from the number of lawyers with whom it closely collaborates!)
Yet there is a glaring absence from SNAP's statement. The organization does not refute nor deny any of the specific claims made by Steier. It simply labels them as "outrageous" and "hurtful." That is hardly a blow to the explosive declaration aired by the veteran attorney.
Yes, Catholic priests terribly abused minors, and bishops failed to stop the harm. That's an undeniable truth. There are few crimes that revolt more than sexual abuse. The abuse of minors is a dark episode that the Church will forever have to live with.
Yet major media outlets have largely ignored a major element to the entire Catholic abuse scandal narrative.
Here is Wall Street Journal writer Dorothy Rabinowitz:
"People have to come to understand that there is a large scam going on with personal injury attorneys, and what began as a serious effort has now expanded to become a huge money-making proposition."
Surprise: Ms. Rabinowitz made her remark in 2005. Since then, the Church has doled out an additional $1 billion in settlements.
Will 2011 be the year that the media finally begins to take a closer look at many of the claims being made? What about the suspicious relationships between SNAP, lawyers, and many in the media? (Vincent Carroll at the Denver Post is a rare voice of acknowledgement: "[F]raudulent or highly dubious accusations are more common than is acknowledged in coverage of the church scandals — although they should not be surprising, given the monumental settlements various dioceses have paid out over the years" (Oct. 10, 2010).)
Stay tuned.
Let me see if I understand this.
-The Roman Catholic Church ordains priests who are child molesters
-When caught the priests are shuttled to another unsuspecting parish
-A feeble defense of the Roman Catholic Church is made on a public forum
And as a result of that defense we are expected to accept that as somehow valid and not see it for what it is?
Continue to bash those who call out evil. I can sleep at night. My church doesn’t sanction child molestation like some faith groups.
I doubt one has to wonder at Gods attitude toward the priest who abuses his power by committing those atrocious acts. I cant even imagine the mind gymnastics those Catholics have to go through who those priests did last rights for their relatives.
Let me see if I understand this.OK, proven - you don't.
My church doesnt sanction child molestation like some faith groups.What "church" is that?
There was nothing in your post to address. You don’t have a clue as to what you are talking about. Dome up with a legitimate comment and I will address it.
Well that's nice that the Vatican denies it...Show us where pope Francis denies it...
Yes, you are correct.
No that is what protestants claim Catholic claim. You ()person in general, not making a personal comment) and you alone determine is you go to hell.
-— . I am sure you have one. We will wait. Thanks. -—
John Jay report. Look it up. I think I lowballed the disparity.
Also, the same report shows ministers to abuse at a higher rate than priests.
But both are well below teachers.
Of course it is as shown by these Protestants.
Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam: We declare, say, define, and pronounce [ex cathedra] that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff. "If, therefore, the Greeks or others say that they are not committed to Peter and to his successors, they necessarily say that they are not of the sheep of Christ, since the Lord says that there is only one fold and one shepherd
Pope Pius XI, Mortalium Animos: Furthermore, in this one Church of Christ no man can be or remain who does not accept, recognize and obey the authority and supremacy of Peter and his legitimate successors. Did not the ancestors of those who are now entangled in the errors of Photius [the eastern Orthodox schismatics] and the reformers, obey the Bishop of Rome, the chief shepherd of souls?...Let none delude himself with obstinate wrangling. For life and salvation are here concerned... Pope Pius XI, Mortalium Animos, PTC:873) The Promotion of True Religious Unity), 11, Encyclical promulgated on January 6, 1928,
Pope Boniface VIII, Bull Unam sanctam (1302): "We are compelled in virtue of our faith to believe and maintain that there is only one holy Catholic Church, and that one is apostolic. This we firmly believe and profess without qualification. Outside this Church there is no salvation and no remission of sins, the Spouse in the Canticle proclaiming: 'One is my dove, my perfect one. One is she of her mother, the chosen of her that bore her' (Canticle of Canticles 6:8); which represents the one mystical body whose head is Christ, of Christ indeed, as God. And in this, 'one Lord, one faith, one baptism' (Ephesians 4:5). Certainly Noah had one ark at the time of the flood, prefiguring one Church which perfect to one cubit having one ruler and guide, namely Noah, outside of which we read all living things were destroyed We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff."
Oh wait
.
“Thats the point. If one claims one true church that implies the true part means they do all things justly and right”
Poppycock. The Catholic Church is made up of sinners.....exactly like whatever faith you belong to.
Christ said he would be with his Church till the end of time. The Catholic Church has been around for 2,000 years. Full of saints and sinners, good popes and bad popes. If the world stands 2,000 more years the Catholic Church will still be here, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The link I posted state 100 time more sexual abuse in schools.
“THAT, my dear, is the MAIN reason why these lawsuits have been filed”.
No the main reason these lawsuits are filed is because of MONEY. Did you know that clergy are the only people in the world that have no statute of limitations against filing a claim against them? Teachers, cops, firemen, all of public servants, and all other segments of society have a statute of limitations, or how long you can wait before filing charges against someone.......except the clergy.
It goes something like this: A shyster lawyer runs an ad saying that if you have ever been sexually abused by a priest to come and see him, that he can help. You are broke. You go see the lawyer. He tells you that “dream” you had of being molested 40 years ago will never go away unless you get a shrink and unless you file charges against Father Tom. He lets you know there are no statute of limitations against Father Tom. You start seeing dollars signs in your head and retired 85 year old Father Tom is arrested. He has no defense. He denies it ever happened. But that’s not good enough. He’s a Catholic priest, therefore he has to be guilty. To make the story go away, because there is no way this Catholic priest can prove his innocence, the local diocese pays the ranson money. The “victim” and the shyster lawyer are happy campers. The 85 year old Catholic priest, is humiliated and labeled a sex offender and has to register as a sex offender.
If this story has involved a cop, a school teacher, a fireman, a politician, or anyone else, the judge would have thrown it out of court due the statute of limitations having ran out.
It’s all about FOLLOW THE MONEY. It’s all about destroying the moral authority of the Catholic Church. End of story.
Liberals hate the Catholic Church and FR is infested with liberals mascarading as conservatives. No conservative has the hate in their heart for the Catholic Church that a few on FR has. The cat is out of the bag. So for all you Catholic-hating liberals that live to bash the Catholic Church, the internet is full of liberal political websites.
Awww c'mon...Liberals love the Catholic religion...Want proof??? OBAMA...
Want more proof??? Most of you defending the aiding and abetting of queer clergy in your religion...
Want more proof??? The socialist agenda of your Catholic religion...
I gotta stop before I run out of ink...
Well!! There you have it! Those that look to the schools through which to obtain their salvation or who go to the teachers to get absolution or last rights are 100 times more the fool than Catholics. What a relief that must be for Catholics.
-— What a relief that must be for Catholics. -—
Ministers abuse children at a slightly higher rate than Catholic priests. Look it up. I don’t usually make an issue of it, but I will make exceptions.
I am a Catholic because of the CONSERVATIVE doctrine of the faith. Last time I checked the Catholic Church didn’t allow sodomite “marriage”, believe in women clergy, or abortion of any kind. And I live my faith.
Now want me to give you the names of all the protestant churches that will marry Tom and Dick or Helen and Edna? Or all the protestant churches that could care less how many babies their members abort.
Mitt Romney got more Catholic votes that any protestant denomination.
You need to be concerned with 97% of all your black protestant brothers (most who go church) casting their vote for OBAMA!
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