Spokane diocese's appeal inflames victims (Religious law ignored?)

[NNN0LHI]

http://159.54.227.3/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050908/NEWS06/509080361/1020

SPOKANE -- Victims of sexual abuse by priests were sharply critical Wednesday of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane for appealing a bankruptcy judge's ruling that churches and parochial schools can be sold to pay claims filed by victims.

In an appeal filed late Tuesday in U.S. District Court here, lawyers for Bishop William Skylstad wrote that U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Patricia Williams erred in her analysis in 11 areas and wrongly ignored evidence and centuries of religious law.

Lawyers for individual parishes facing potential loss of churches and schools joined in the appeal. Skylstad is the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the outcome of the Spokane case is likely to have national implications.

"Sadly, Skylstad is choosing combativeness over compassion, delay over closure, hardball over healing, and his own selfish needs over the needs of his diocese and its child sex abuse victims," said David Clohessy, national director of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, an advocacy group for victims.

[patcox2]

1. Cash = "healing." What horseshit.

Its about the cash, all about the cash. Like $100,000 is going to make someone forget that he let a priest suck him of when he was 12. Right.

I have a problem with closing down a school that has benefitted thousands, for years, so that we can "heal" someone with the magical gift of cash.

[Bridget Burke]

2. Why weren't criminal charges filed in the first place?

Too many embarrassing questions? Real molesters belong in jail, but the secular authorities are the only ones who have that power.

[CoffeeCat]

5. Most often...

...victims of sexual abuse only recourse is to file a civil suit, because the statute of limitations runs out on these crimes.

It is estimated that most children do not tell that they were sexual abuse. Predators are very skilled at threatening, "Your mommy and daddy will go to jail", "Everyone will know what you did", "It was your fault too", "No one will believe you".

Most children are manipulated and intimidated into silence. By the time these children grow up, get therapy, heal and have the strength to come forward--too many years have passed to file criminal charges.

I was molested by my father and his best friend--a police officer who was promoted to very high ranks. I reported the crimes--and was just told this month that there is nothing they can do unless a recent victim steps forward.

[Mairead]

9. How dreadful for you.

To be abused that way and then not be able to get justice...that's just heartbreaking. I'm so sorry it happened to you.

[CoffeeCat]

15. Thank you for your kind words...

I didn't realize how much I needed to hear that, until someone said it.

So thanks--for thinking it and for taking the time to post your thoughts.

I just found out recently that there is no recourse.

I'm doing well, and moving on--and it was nice to hear those words.

So thanks! :)

[NNN0LHI]

4. Yea, stop the lawsuits so the priests can keep raping kids with impunity

Only thing that will make the church do anything is to hit them where it hurts. In their pocketbook. If you have a better solution lets hear it.

Don

[anotherdrew]

7. it's not fair...

too bad most people get abused by things with nothing to sue... I bet there are thousands of people in this country who "deserve" money for abuse but who's abusers are poor or dead, or not part of a well-off organization. they get nothing. If only some folks I know had been lucky (yes lucky) enough to get it from the priest instead of their parents/brothers/etc. they'd be doing much better financially now.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[redqueen]

12. That's a disgusting, stupid thing to say.

:puke:

[anotherdrew]

21. giving some victims huge payouts and others nothing is sick and disgusting

[anotherdrew]

13. neither of you address the disparity, some get 100s of K, others: nada

my suggestion would be that there should be a national victims compensation fund set up and all awards go to it, then anyone who can prove something in court has a place from with monetary damages can be paid with certainty and equity.

[NashVegas]

24. The Disparity Does Not Matter

I could never have proven my charges in court. Does that make the 30 years I spent in a head trip less worthy than someone who had convincing evidence? Nope. Do I care? Fuck, no.

There is no amount of money in the world that can compensate having one's boundaries and ability to trust so grossly violated. A man threw himself into the Charles River despite an award settlement. He got compensation - he didn't get peace. But without that compensation, the Church would have been able to continue to paint itself as some kind of moral guardian.

Your 'national victims' compensation fund' will do nothing to stop the crime from being committed. Besides the fact you're taking money from taxpayers and not the guilty parties, taking responsibility for one's own recovery is part of the healing process. No one can do that for you.

[NashVegas]

23. People Have Sued Their Parents - And Won

Check your legal history.

People are winning cash judgements against the Church because the only way to get the Church to do donkey-squat is to come at them with a lawyer. I say this from personal experience: no lawyer? Here's the rug, here's the broom. For me, seeing how chickenshit the Church is was enough to move on. For others that may not be the case and I'll not damn myself by criticizing them.

[gratuitous]

8. So, what amends should be made?

Remember we're dealing with civil suits here, not criminal ones, so jail time isn't an option. What atonement should the Catholic Church make to the victims of its agents suitable to the structures of a secular society if not money?

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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[CoffeeCat]

16. Wow, that's exactly what the pedophiles say...

I'm a survivor of sexual abuse--and I do volunteer work with perps. I tell my story-as part of their rehabilitation program--to help them come out of denial about their horrendous crimes.

Perps begin therapy believing many bizarre, fucked-up notions--such as the child "allowed" the perpetrator to abuse them; therefore it's not the pedophile's fault because the child should have done something.

It usually takes 2 or more years of therapy to break down the distorted thinking of the pedophile. I give my speech to those oin the sex-offender program when they've been in therapy for about a year--when they just begin to realize that sexual actions with a child is not harmless, nor is it the child's responsibility to stop the adult--who has all of the power.

So no..."12-year olds" don't "let" priests "suck them off when they are 12." Pedophiles shock their victims. They threaten them. They cause them to disassociate themselves into a cloud until the abuse is finished. That's what I did. I made myself go away. Inaction doesn't mean the child is giving permission. Inaction means trauma. Inaction is the typical response from a child. Putting your sex organs in a child's mouth--however--isn't really typical...is it now?

Furthermore--I haven't sued my perps in civil court. I may. I may not. However, the cash would be nice. Sticking it to these cowardly freaks would be even better. Drawing publicity to their crimes and standing up for the child in me who was powerless and vulnerable--would have many benefits. Taking some of their money would be nice. How else would I punish them? Anyway, many survivors--like myself--have paid thousands in therapy and have spent countless hours trying to rise above panic attacks, eating disorders, relationship problems, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

How long should a survivor of childhood sexual abuse continuing paying (emotionally and financially) for the mess that someone else created?

A few dollars may not solve the problem--but I would consider it a good start if part of their fortune was transferred to someone from whom they robbed SO MUCH.

[Kelvin Mace]

18. Thanks you for discussing something so painful

The perps brought this on themselves, and by perps I mean the Catholic Church who aided and abetted child molesters.

[Kelvin Mace]

17. Gee, how judgemental

MONEY is the ONLY langauge the Catholic church understands. Anything that doesn't cost money doesn't deter illegal behavior.

As someone who has been involved in a lawsuit, I can tell you I would have beem quite satisfied with a public apology and the prosecution of the offending party.

I got neither, so I took the only pound of flesh I could. The alternative was to do NOTHING and let them get away unscathed.

The Catholic Church brought this upon themselves. And if they have to close down schools and churches to pay for their crimes, GOOD.

This country can use a lot less churches and religous schools.

[Scurrilous]

20. Yep..

...close down the schools. Do it for the children. :thumbsup:

[CoffeeCat]

3. This bad decision is an attempt to punish the victims...

If victims of priest pedophilia sue and receive compensation that takes away schools and churches--those victims will be vilified and accused of being selfish and evil.

The rendering of this opinion is an attempt to silence victims, keep them weak and intimidate them into keeping these crimes a secret.

What a farce.

[NashVegas]

25. I Wouldn't Care

Just having been "one of those kids," and going through seven years of Catholic school, was enough to make me pretty immune to emotional blackmail. I'd gander that those with the backbones to make it all the way to court don't feel dissimilar.

[FlemingsGhost]

6. WWJD? (n/t)

Flem.

[ShockediSay]

10. Relax, that's a lawyer's call.

And lawyers are the best paid prostitutes in the world.

Signed
A lawyer

ps
Litigation lawyers are small change compared to big bucks bagmen lobby lawyers.

[VegasWolf]

19. Yes, but the client said "go for it!" nt