The Roman Catholic Church has expended a large quantity of Crocodile tears in its feigned remorse over the sexual abuse of minors by priests and claims that it has purged its ranks of pedophiles. Like so much disseminated by the Church, the claims that all abusers have been removed are not true. Two new cases illustrate the continuing phenomenon. First, a situation from Ohio where a priest previously cleared by the diocese has again been charged with abuse. Here are some highlights:*
A former Catholic priest who served at St. Jude Church and is accused of having sexual contact with a teenage boy 12 years ago pleaded not guilty Thursday to a single count of sexual battery. . . . O’Connor, 51, resigned in June 2008 after the latest allegation against him surfaced when the victim in the case, who wasn’t a parishioner, came forward to the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. The victim, now in his late 20s, was a teenager during the summer of 1997 when the sexual contact allegedly took place, according to prosecutors.
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O’Connor previously had been suspended as a priest between 2003 and 2007 while the church was investigating another sexual abuse allegation from his time as a priest at St. Joseph Church in Cuyahoga Falls during the 1980s. A diocese review board cleared him of those allegations, which surfaced in 2003 and prompted him to leave his position with the Police Department. O’Connor was reinstated as a priest in 2007, but the diocese restricted his access to children. O’Connor, who is free on bond, could receive up to five years in prison if convicted.
*O’Connor previously had been suspended as a priest between 2003 and 2007 while the church was investigating another sexual abuse allegation from his time as a priest at St. Joseph Church in Cuyahoga Falls during the 1980s. A diocese review board cleared him of those allegations, which surfaced in 2003 and prompted him to leave his position with the Police Department. O’Connor was reinstated as a priest in 2007, but the diocese restricted his access to children. O’Connor, who is free on bond, could receive up to five years in prison if convicted.
Then, in Illinois a priest has been arrested for his involvement with a 15 year old boy he met through an Internet chat room. As I have said before, only a thorough house cleaning from top to bottom of the Catholic clergy will end this seemingly never ending story of abuse and inappropriate contact with minors. Here are highlights on the Illinois case:
*Wayne E. Wigglesworth of Valparaiso was arrested Aug. 17 after police pulled his vehicle over near the intersection of 60th and Rockwell streets in Chicago when Wigglesworth's vehicle made an improper turn. They found the 15-year-old teen with him, but the teen didn't know Wigglesworth's name.
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When police further questioned him, the teen said he met Wigglesworth through an Internet chat room, TeenChat.com., and they talked for several days. Wigglesworth eventually asked to meet the teen so they could perform oral sex on each other and then "hold and hug each other," according to the criminal complaint.
*When police further questioned him, the teen said he met Wigglesworth through an Internet chat room, TeenChat.com., and they talked for several days. Wigglesworth eventually asked to meet the teen so they could perform oral sex on each other and then "hold and hug each other," according to the criminal complaint.
Wigglesworth is being held without bond although no indictment has been filed against him in federal court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Trumbull-Harris said the case was still being investigated and that anyone with information about improper conduct regarding Wigglesworth should call Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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