Posted on 04/12/2022 12:41:15 PM PDT by Morgana
Women who say they survived sexual abuse within a group of conservative Baptist churches are using an unusual legal method to try and hold their alleged abuser accountable — the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
The federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law was passed in 1970 as a way to prosecute mobs as whole entities rather than try mob-related activities individually. RICO has most notably been used to prosecute criminal enterprises such as the mafia, gangs and corrupt police departments and politicians.
On Wednesday, attorneys argued before a U.S. District Appeals Court that RICO should be applied to the case of two women who say Dave Hyles, an independent fundamental Baptist church leader, sexually abused them.
Joy Evans Ryder and Rhonda Lee are among hundreds of women who allege abuse within the independent fundamental Baptist church community, which spans across the country. Several of the churches are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including the Southwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, and the Star-Telegram uncovered dozens of abuse allegations in a 2018 investigation. Like in many sexual assault cases, statute of limitations laws have kept the women from bringing their accusations before a court.
In a press release from the group Blind Eye Movement, a group that supports and advocates on behalf of sexual assault victims at independent Baptist churches, Ryder said she hopes the judges apply RICO to the case.
“Not only would it give us our day in court,” she said, “but it would provide potential justice for sexual assault victims who are being denied the opportunity to have their cases heard by a jury.”
(Excerpt) Read more at amp.star-telegram.com ...
I doubt if the pastor discussed this with the board of elders and the different ministry leaders like the youth pastor, women’s ministry and men’s ministry but hey, maybe he did.
The splinter Baptist churches have been a problem of one sort or another for decades.
Why was RICO never used against the Catholic Church for the coverups of sexual abuse by priests?............
“Joy Evans Ryder and Rhonda Lee are among hundreds of women who allege abuse within the independent fundamental Baptist church community, which spans across the country.”
I bet you could find hundreds of cases of tax evasion, or drug use, or insurance fraud within the “indepedent fundamental Baptist church community” too. Yet that doesn’t mean there’s a conspiracy.
Now, if there was some hierarchical structure running the organization that systematically attempted to cover-up the crimes and aid the perpetrators, then it would be a lot easier to make the case for conspiracy stick.
Because the Catholic church membership is shrinking in the U.S. Meanwhile, evangelical Protestant churches are growing.
As Rush liked to say, liberals always show you who they fear most.
Churches. Schools. Teachers. Clergy. Theme parks. Bust them all.
“Churches. Schools. Teachers. Clergy. Theme parks. Bust them all.”
Don’t forget political parties
I’m a bit of an expert on RICO. Based on the article a civil RICO action does not apply in this case.
The article is also mistaken by claiming it only applies to the mafia or mobsters. It applies to any organization controlled by two or more individuals through a pattern of racketeering activity by committing at least two RICO predicate acts, that affect interstate commerce.
The interstate commerce element only has to meet a deminimus standard, and pretty much every action meets it. This requirement was inserted so that it would give the federal courts jurisdiction.
Lots of organizations can be operated in violation of the RICO statutes, including political offices, sheriffs offices, private and public companies, courts, government agencies, etc.
Remember, it’s not the organization that commits the criminal conduct, it’s the people who control and work in them. Organizations are inanimate, so they can’t commit crimes.
I’m thinking mainly because Catholics went by way of civil court to get justice. These women are going to criminal court which is different.
After all, if a church is run properly then it will be because a coordinated group of people worked together to enforce wrongthink.
I understand but also there is probably evidence they are not sharing in this article that could apply.
They think they have enough to make it work and are telling us just enough to write this article. I’m wondering what they have not told us that might come out later.
RICO can only be used if the organization has committed (a) predicate act(s) for the purpose of financing the organization (”enterprise”). If there is no direct financial benefit to the enterprise, then RICO won’t work
How about schools?
Could RICO laws be applied to teacher sexual abuse? What about the physical and sexual abuse from other students?
It’s not the organization that commits RICO predicate acts, it’s the people who operate and control the organization.
See post #13 in this thread for your answer.
If the "coverup" was intended to thwart the criminal justice system, the appropriate charge would be conspiracy to obstruct justice.
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