As Weird As It Gets...

[John Peterson]

Hey Friends,

When I was growing up my Grandfather and Uncle Wally used to say, "Jackson, if you live long enough you're gonna see a lot of really weird $hit that's gonna surprise you."

Well friends, check this out: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-reading-priest-pregnant-diocese-la20100827,0,3276836.story And please read the subsequent comments. Now the one thing that surprises me isn't that a young priest had a sexual relationship. BUT ask yourself, "What kind of parent would videotape their 18 year old daughter having sexual intercourse with a priest?" I realize that at soon to be 58 that I'm part of an older generation but c'mon be honest, is it only me that thinks videotaping your daughter in this manner is beyond weird? Please shoot straight with me. Am I totally out of touch with today's sense of morality?

---John Peterson

[MikeNY]

A Priest having an affair with a 17 year old student might not be a crime legally but it is a violation of a major proportion and a violation of his oath and duty as a teacher. I might be wrong but the parents filmed him to sue him and the Church; and I hope they won a large award to punish him and those that aided him; and yes I am a Catholic. I researched the Catholic Abuse and found http://stopbaptistpredators.org/index.htm and many other sites like this; it is a pity to see any Clergy engaged in abuse no matter what the denomination. Unfortunetly this is more common than we realize. I hope that priest this expelled from the Priesthood and the Church.

Growing up in the Italian-American community I never saw abuse or heard of it; but to Italians anyone that abuses is no longer protected by God; and can be beaten and hurt; and might end up dead no matter what he is.

[Andy62]

For a predator becoming a member of the clergy is a great hunting ground. So is becoming a little league coach, a scout master, an elemetary school teacher, or anywhere else where you are an authority figure over children. I was a member ot a protestant church where our minister was a child molester. I also knew of a Christian College where the president of the college married a couple and while they were talking on their wedding night they found out that the college president had sex with both of them. There is no magic in any religous organization- true religion is in the heart.

[MikeNY]

Gordon once again you see what is really there and think, I agree with you; predators are always seeking prey. That is why parents must be watchful, when we were boys; scout leaders were usually the mothers and fathers of boys, not single men or women. Sports Team Coachs were usually the dad's of one or two of the boys; High School Coachs were mainly married men. Now you get single men that want to be around children and that has to be questioned by each parent. Now that might not always twisted; there are men that can not have children and set to give back to the community without being predatory.

In my work I saw Clergy that were criminals, from all faiths and denominations. Some of our Officers had degrees and were Ministers, my Aide has been a Minister. He was robbed and struck in the head with a blunt instrument, received blunt force trauma wound and lost his memory, didn't even recognise his siblings. He and the Officers that were Clergy were the best and that sometimes is lost.

I hope this Priest is Investigated, usually men like this are serial criminals, and expelled from the Priesthood, and not allowed to be a Minister. I've seen Clergy that pass from one denomination to another, they need background checks for clearence. I;ve read in the Justice Department materials that the number of predators runs about the same percentage wise among all main stream Christian Denominations, and higher among more cult like Groups.

[Andy62]

Sociopaths pop up in every segment of society.

[MikeNY]

Gordon: As Greg Newton and I have laughed about a few times there are Sociopathic cops, and we both worked with the through the years, they might not have been sexual predators and were just major A**holes, self centered, egotistical jerks; Oh MY God that describes Politicans in Washington lol! You Gordon and John are realists that have been out in the world, that makes a difference.

I think all Clergy and anyone working with kids should have a police background check mandated by Law.

[Andy62]

It sounds to me like the taping was to build the case for the lawsuit. There have been some really big awards in similar cases recently.