The foul putrid smell emanating from the Catholic Church hierarchy just seems to be intensifying. I've noted many times that on close examination it's evident that the Church hierarchy shows no true contrition for the world wide sex abuse conspiracy that has treated children and youths as just so much collateral damage in the quest to protect the Church's image no matter how foul and cesspool like it is in fact. Yes, we've seen crocodile tears from time to time - even from Benedict XVI himself. Not that I for one believe a single word that crosses the man's lips. Now, as the New York Times is reporting, the Church hierarchy seems to have decided to try to break sexual abuse survivor support groups and to possibly fight tooth and claw to avoid paying compensation to those used as sex toys and disposable commodities by predatory priests and child rapists. It truly does not get any more disgusting: Here are highlights from the Times coverage:
As I have asked before, when are many of the U.S. Catholic bishops who have enabled and covered up for sexual predators going to be criminally prosecuted? If you or I did a fraction of what these "princes of the Church" have done, we'd be in jail already. When are prosecutors going to grow some balls and go after these foul individuals? And in terms of the Catholic laity, what the hell does it take to make them open their eyes to what they are financially underwriting with their parish donation?
Turning the tables on an advocacy group that has long supported victims of pedophile priests, lawyers for the Roman Catholic Church and priests accused of sexual abuse in two Missouri cases have gone to court to compel the group to disclose more than two decades of e-mails that could include correspondence with victims, lawyers, whistle-blowers, witnesses, the police, prosecutors and journalists.
The group, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, is neither a plaintiff nor a defendant in the litigation. . . . . The network and its allies say the legal action is part of a campaign by the church to cripple an organization that has been the most visible defender of victims, and a relentless adversary, for more than two decades. “If there is one group that the higher-ups, the bishops, would like to see silenced,” said Marci A. Hamilton, a law professor at Yeshiva University and an advocate for victims of clergy sex crimes, “it definitely would be SNAP. And that’s what they’re going after. They’re trying to find a way to silence SNAP.”
William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, . . . . aid targeting the network was justified because “SNAP is a menace to the Catholic Church.”
Mr. Donohue said leading bishops he knew had resolved to fight back more aggressively against the group: . . . . . “The bishops have come together collectively. I can’t give you the names, but there’s a growing consensus on the part of the bishops that they had better toughen up and go out and buy some good lawyers to get tough. We don’t need altar boys.”
he first indication that the network would be caught up in legal proceedings came from Kansas City, where Bishop Robert W. Finn last year became the first American bishop ever to be criminally indicted for failure to report suspected child abuse.
Mr. Clohessy received a subpoena in October at his St. Louis home, where he works, regarding the case John Doe B.P. v. the Rev. Michael Tierney and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
Four plaintiffs are accusing Father Tierney of sexually abusing them years ago. The cases would be outside the statute of limitations in Missouri, but the plaintiffs contend they recovered their memories of abuse only recently.
The subpoena asked that Mr. Clohessy turn over all documents in the last 23 years that mention repressed memory, any current or former priest in Kansas City, the diocese, Father Tierney, John Doe or Rebecca Randles, the attorney for the plaintiffs.
Ten victims’ advocacy groups filed a supporting brief arguing that the subpoena was unconstitutional. The Missouri Press Association also filed a supporting brief. However, Judge Ann Mesle of Missouri Circuit Court in Jackson County ruled that Mr. Clohessy must release the files and be deposed because he “almost certainly has knowledge concerning issues relevant to this litigation” . . .
The experience has sent a chill through the network’s volunteers, Ms. Dorris said. “They want to do what’s right, and they want to help others, but this is a threat,” she said. “I think for some it’s strengthened their resolve, but others are scared.”
As I have asked before, when are many of the U.S. Catholic bishops who have enabled and covered up for sexual predators going to be criminally prosecuted? If you or I did a fraction of what these "princes of the Church" have done, we'd be in jail already. When are prosecutors going to grow some balls and go after these foul individuals? And in terms of the Catholic laity, what the hell does it take to make them open their eyes to what they are financially underwriting with their parish donation?
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