Archdiocese Concealed Sexual Abuse, Grand Jury Finds

[IChing]

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 21, 2005
PHILADELPHIA -- Leaders of the Philadelphia Archdiocese including two cardinals concealed sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests for four decades, a grand jury has found, but no criminal charges can be brought against the church or its clergy because of the limits of state law.
The grand jury, convened more than three years ago, issued a scathing report Wednesday that documents assaults by more than 60 priests. It also alleges a cover up by the late Cardinal John Krol, archbishop of Philadelphia from 1961-88, and his successor Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, who retired in 2003.

"To protect themselves from negative publicity or expensive lawsuits -- while keeping abusive priests active -- the cardinals and their aides hid the priests' crimes from parishioners, police and the general public," the report said.>>>snip

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/21/national/21cnd-abuse.html?ex=1284955200&en=696aed414934c2c7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Rick, I am SHOCKED, SHOCKED to find that gambling is taking place here.

I wonder. Does diplomatic immunity still hold if the entire organization, (or as State calls it) a nation is guilty of conspiracy and coverups? Just because a previous president decided to grant them a separate nation's recognition?

I'd like to see Saddam try that.

If anyone complains that bitching at the Catholic Church is unfair and anti-religious, just remind them in the US alone there are more than 19,000 victims of serial sexual abuse by priest since 1960. (That may be an undercount. Some of the diocese are ignoring the agreement to report on all confirmed acts of sexual abuse) Unfortunately, the US is not even close to being in the forefront of this continuing battle. Poland, Ireland, China, most of Africa, Germany, France, Italy, all have had scandals; those numbers approach and exceed our rates of abuse, as a percentage of population.

What the grand jury has found, in other words, is an international criminal organization, using their "religious" status as a shield for the long-standing criminal acts of their chief officers and representatives.

[Bob3]

2. This seems outrageous that no charges will be brought

what are these limits - statue of limitations I presume. But even if they can't be charged for original incidents sure the cover up itself is enough for charges to be brought - unless I'm missing some point of law here - which isn't out of the question I'm no lawyer.

Still - I assume that the victims of the abuse will be able to take the findings of the grand jury and use it as a basis to sue the ass off of the Church in civil court.

[IChing]

3. Unincoporated vs corporation was the reason

Although it is harder to attack corporations now more than ever, it was looked at.

"The grand jury explored the possibility of charges against the archdiocese, but said the organization can't be prosecuted because it is an unincorporated association rather than a corporation."

[happyslug]

4. So Lynne Abraham Took time off from Executing people....

This was brought by Lynn Abraham who has sent more people to Pennsylvania Death Row than any other District Attorney in Pennsylvania (And I will NOT bring up the Mumia Abu-Jamal where she is DEFENDING the Philadelphia Police).

Now given that the Catholic Church imposed new restrictions about 1985 AND the statute of limitation for CRIMINAL sexual abuse is two years (Four years for Civil Abuse Cases) AND such statute only start to run when the child turns age 18 (I.e. must file the charge before he or she turns 20, but can sue till age 22) yes I would say the statute of Limitation has run WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO A GRAND JURY.

Thus Lynn Abraham stated intention that this was her way of "Investigating" the incidents makes no sense, but it makes perfect sense in that it got her name on the front page of the Philadelphia Newspapers and mentioned on the Evening news (Note she is NOT investigating any CURRENT child abuse, just child abuse "Hidden" by the diocese under the Diocese procedures that were changed in 1985 and further strengthened in 1992). Everyone is getting on the Child abuse bandwagon, provided it costs them no money to do the actual investigation and prosecution.

DA Lynn Abraham's Web Page:
http://www.lynneabraham.com/photo_gallery.html

Other Web pages on Lynn:
http://www.iacenter.org/maj_abraham.htm
http://www.phila.gov/districtattorney/aboutus/Brochure/DAbrochure.pdf#search='Lynne%20Abraham'

The Philadelphia Diocese Web PAge on Child Abuse:
http://www.archdiocese-phl.org/protection/index.htm

[I_Make_Mistakes]

5. Well 6 priests, a problem, 63 a conspiracy. I guess you are claiming

the poor persecuted Catholics line. I am not Catholic, but usually defend the RC. This is just sick and disgusting. A priest rapes an 11 year old girl and then takes her for an abortion?

If anyone cares

www.6abc.com has transcripts, warning Graphic.

I didn't read them, I heard enough.

Don't buy the change the message or shoot the messenger line. They (RC's) covered up 63 child abusers and need to reconcile their faith and teachings with the actions of those who are responsible.

I don't think I can defend the RC anymore. Too many lies, Christ didn't lie!

[I_Make_Mistakes]

6. Kick

[happyslug]

9. The Diocese's Report

Executive Summary:
http://www.archdiocese-phl.org/grandjury/exesummary.pdf

Full Text:
http://www.archdiocese-phl.org/grandjury/grandjuryreport.pdf

Web Page of Response:
http://www.archdiocese-phl.org/grandjury.htm

There is an old Joke about Grand Juries, i.e. even a bad District Attorney could get a Grand Jury to indict a Ham Sandwich.

In Pennsylvania Grand Juries are rarely invoked in Criminal Cases, Gran Juries are only used to investigate crimes where the subpoena power of the Grand Jury is deemed needed to further the investigation of the Local District Attorney or the Pennsylvania's Attorney General. Thus there was NO Need to call a Grand Jury except for the purpose of Condemning the actions of the Dioceses (Indictment could have been done directly by the DA instead of by the Grand Jury if the DA was was really looking for people to indict). No this was NOT to investigate Criminal Activity by the Clergy but to booster Lynn Abraham's status as Philadelphia's District Attorney.

Now I agree with you, 63 cases is a huge number, but that goes back to 1961 (and may even go back further given the recent search done by the Catholic Church which looked at records back till the 1950s). Should the Church have moved these priests around? No the Priests should have been restricted so that they did not come into contact with children. On the other hand the Statute of Limitation was intended to make sure the State would only prosecute cases where the evidence is relativity recent (I.e. Two years for Criminal, four year for CiviL actions).

My point was NOT to show the Church as a Bright example of what to do in such situations but to show that Lynn Abraham did her Grand Jury investigation with the intention to get good publicity NOT to look for actual criminal activity. The results of the Grand Jury clearly shows this, making a broad based attack on the Last Three Bishops of Philadelphia but than not indicting anyone citing the Statute of Limitation. This is like me accusing you of such sexual misconduct but than saying they is nothing I can do for the statute of limitation has expired (Thus giving you no chance to defend themselves). You can NOT sue a Grand Jury for Slander and since the statement is from the Grand Jury NOT the District Attorney's Office you can not even sue the District Attorney no matter how UNTRUTHFUL the statement was. Thus the Church has no way to bring the accusations to trial EVEN IF THE ACCUSATION WAS COMPLETELY FALSE.

Now I am NOT saying the statement is false, but if the statment was false the Bishops have no way to bring an action in court to correct the falsehood. The Grand Jury did not like the actions of the Diocese but that is based solely on the information presented to the Grand Jury by the District Attorney's Office. While a Witness may tell the Grand Jury something the District Attorney does not want the Grand Jury to Hear, as a general rule no one can present evidence to the Grand Jury EXCEPT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. Grand Juries are NOT design to weigh the evidence but to see if evidence of a Crime MAY have been committed AND who may have done the crime. Grand Juries do not Convict people. Thus my point this Report of the Grand Jury is NOT a conviction or a legal Judgment against the Diocese of Philadelphia but only that evidence of such criminal activity did occur. The Church Admitted to this YEARS AGO so how often must we get new findings of crimes already admitted to?

This Grand Jury Report is as valid as the following:
NEW FLASH: Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee OWNED SLAVES REPORT GRAND JURY, but the statute of Limitation has expired on indicting Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee.

NEW FLASH: GRAND JURY REPORT RACIAL DISCRIMINATION EXISTED IN PHILADELPHIA IN THE 1960s, but the statute of Limitation has expired so no indictments were made.

Lynn Abraham could have had the Grand Jury look into those situation also and waste Tax payer's money to find facts while known to the Public but no longer actionable by operation of the Statute of Limitation.

Sorry about the length of this response, but the facts of this case is just bad. We all accept that what the Diocese did was WRONG, but did this Grand Jury Report RIGHT that WRONG? The answer is no, it is just a feel good report to show that Lynn Abraham is "Looking out for the good of Philadelphians" instead of being a heartless prosecutor whose reputation is based on sending people to die by lethal injection.

[Mandate My Ass]

10. This needed to be exposed - those "priests" are scum and

their enablers are worse. I rarely agree with Lynn Abraham but I agree with her on that point. The report may not have righted a wrong but there is a bill proposed that would eliminate the statute of limitations for child molesters like the monsters in that report and that would definitely go a long way to righting the wrong. Hundreds of children were fed to the wolves by the very people they trusted and looked to for spiritual guidance. Their lives are ruined. The chance of conviction after this amount of time is slim so all they can hope for is to shame the people who were responsible and I support them wholeheartedly in that.

The archdiocese is flinging a lot of poo around themselves, calling this investigation and report "anti-Catholic." Bullshit.

[happyslug]

14. Yes, lets repeal the Statute of Limitation, it would be unconstitutional

but who cares, the Constitution is only a scape of paper anyway. Seriously, when it comes to CRIMINAL behavior it is unconstitutional for any state and the Federal Government to make a "Post De-Facto" law i.e. makes something that had already occurred illegal when it had been legal when the actual incident occurred. In the Case of Statute of Limitations the Legislature can eliminate or extend any statute of Limitation, but only for FUTURE CRIMES OF THAT NATURE. The crimes covered up in the elimination or extension would NOT be affected. Quite literally the time has run on those cases and the State can NOT extend that time once the time had run.

Again I point out the limitation of the Law. You can NOT right every wrong through legal means, some you have to endure. I am not defending the actions of the Church, it was disgraceful, but just pointing out the limitation of the law. Limitation while known to any attorney practicing in Pennsylvania including Lynn Abrahams. If she had concentrated on CRIMES she could have indicted someone over I would NOT have the objections I do, but she did NOT even uncover any such crimes (She found a lot of Crimes where the Statute of Limitation has run, but no Crimes where it had NOT run), thus the Grand Jury's Non-indictment of the Catholic Diocese of Philadelphia.

As to the Condemnation, how many times has the Church have to address this problem? If the procedures adopted after 1985 and 1992 are NOT being followed (Or are being followed carelessly) than that is a new accusation and should be addressed, but the Church has already faced and addressed the accusations addressed by the Grand Jury. The Church have had to address these litigation in both Civil litigation AND the investigation of such accusation done by the Church's Committee (Which was driven by the Civil Litigation). The Church has addressed this issue under the Present and former Bishop (In the Case of the later, driven by Civil Litigation). The new guidelines on how to handle accusation of sexual misconduct by a priest seems to be working (and seems to be being followed). Maybe its me, but unless some good would come out of reviewing this matter it should be ended. It has to end some time and this Grand Jury non-indictment and proposed unconstitutional change in the Statute of Limitation (Only unconstitutional in regards to PAST cases not cases in the Future) will NOT add to the relief of the victims. This should be left go and people get on with their lives (Through any Civil Litigation should be continued to compensate any victims). Remember the statute of Limitation is NOT only longer for Civil Litigation but the Courts tend to want to get around Limitation as to Civil actions as opposed to Criminal Actions. This Grand Jury investigation did NOTHING to improve the information of Sexual mis-conduct in the Diocese of Philadelphia instead, in my opinion, is being used to improve the position of Lynn Abrahams as a "protector" of the people NOT to help the victims of the sexual Abuse within the Diocese of Philadelphia.

[SpiralHawk]

7. The church is going down

Too damn corrupt. Makes the Evangelical TV Hucksters look "holy."

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

8. Four decades

That's two generations of children to rape.

And this was a scene repeated around the country, and in fact, around the world.

:puke:

[saigon68]

18. NEW WEBSITE

http://www.priestsrapeboys.com

[redqueen]

11. Absolutely sickening.

I'm glad I have absolutely nothing to do with the corrupt RC church anymore.

The pope could unilaterally excommunicate anyone who covered up crimes, couldn't he? Telling that he doesn't. And that he won't.

Parasites. Hypocrites. Liars. How can anyone have any faith at all in any kind of church? Churches are run by men, not gods, not saints, not angels. Follow the light in your heart... slay the buddhas.

[Mandate My Ass]

12. Ratzy is one of the biggest pedophile enablers in the RC Church

The DOJ is pressuring a judge to grant him immunity in a civil case brought against him and others in Texas. The culture of life group sure have strange ways of showing it.

[redqueen]

13. Well that's interesting, considering how much the fundies hate catholics

I suppose now that the neo-cons have one of their own as pope, the paradigm has changed.

[happyslug]

15. In that case the problem was with the Police

That Diocese DID report the incident to the Police (and terminated the Priest) BUT than the police did nothing.

For more see:
http://biz.yahoo.com/law/050909/50631660c1e848129c4fc52d0102de3e.html?.v=1

This was discussed at the Following DU Thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1793420

[Mandate My Ass]

16. LOL, yeah blame the police

The diocese did NOT report this to the police, the coverups here and elsewhere are well documented. Everybody else has an agenda except the guilty. :eyes:

[happyslug]

17. I was responding to the Thread regarding Pope Benedict

NOT to the Philadelphia situation. In the Case where pope Benedict is asking to be removed the FACTUAL DISPUTE is what did the Church do? The Plaintiffs said the Church Covered up the incident, the Church says it informed the Police as per today's policy on sexual abuse. The Plaintiff said that the Church spitted out the Offender, while the Church said it asked the Police, kept the Offender in the US till the Police told the Church that the offender could leave him go back to South America (The Church also claims they terminated the Priest as soon as the allegation was made and reported the incident to the Police).

That is the Case Pope Benedict is asking to be relieved from NOT the situation in Philadelphia. Two different scandals which we should make an effort to keep apart.