Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by sk8eycat on July 9, 2012 at 6:02pm

I read the Black Collar Crime Blotter in every issue of Freethought Today, and I do NOT understand why these child-rapists get such light sentences, or none.  Embezzlers and tax evaders serve more time.

Life in prison without possibility of parole.  Period.  (The death penalty is too expensive with appeals, etc...  Just lock them up, and maybe let the other prisoners settle the matter.)

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on July 9, 2012 at 9:26pm

Hopefully, more people will reveal their experiences ... the best treatment is open records. 

Permalink Reply by sk8eycat on July 10, 2012 at 7:40am

There are two odd things that keep recurring in most of the accounts I have read: when the children were able to bring themselves to tell their parents what had happened to them, either they were not believed (!!!), or, instead of going straight to the police, the parents went to the church authorities to complain.  What did they expect the church to do except try to cover its a$$?

I can't imagine what it would feel like to have my parents disbelieve me about such a horrifying thing...must compound the pain enormously.

As for the other, any thinking person would know that an organization as large as the Catholic church, with so much to lose, would do its best to shove everything under the rug.

It's all just crazy.

Permalink Reply by annet on July 10, 2012 at 8:21am

It is hard to reconcile ethically and legally, but I'm glad they did. From what I read Lynch did not cause permanent physical damage to the priest.  But the priest caused him permanent harm.

It is harder to understand why the priest pressed charges for a  "vicious" and painful attack"  and then had the nerve to take the 5th. Galling and sick.