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******The*E-Zine*of*Atheistic*Secular*Humanism*and*Freethought*****
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###################################################################
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######## Volume I, Number 1.5 ***A Collector's Item!***##########
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###################### ISSN 1198-4619 ###########################
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########################## MAY 1994 ###############################
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#########################Supplementary#############################
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In the mythology and symbolism of our name, "Lucifer" is not to be
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confused with ha-Satan, the mythological source of evil. Lucifer's
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ancient identity was a bearer of light, the morning star, and it is
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as such that this journal intends to publish.
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As the religion virus depends on obscurity, obfuscation, confusion,
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irrationality and darkness in order to flourish, it is natural that
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it would see light as an enemy. Rational, skeptical inquiry has
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ever been the enemy of all religions and is ultimately fatal to all
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gods.
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The purpose of this magazine is to provide a source of articles
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dealing with many aspects of humanism. Humanists have been
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vilified by the religious as immoral. Apparently, the most
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horrible thing they can think of is an atheist.
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As we find their values, such as faith in the non-existent,
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obedience to the imaginary and reverence of the ridiculous,
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repulsive, we adopt the name of their ancient antagonist with
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pride.
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We are atheistic as we do not believe in the actual existence of
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any supernatural beings or any transcendental reality.
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We are secular because the evidence of history and the daily
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horrors in the news show the pernicious and destructive
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consequences of allowing religions to be involved with politics and
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nationalism.
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We are humanists and we focus on what is good for humanity, in the
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real world. We will not be put off with offers of pie in the sky,
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bye and bye.
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[.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.]
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Despite this beautiful explanation there are many who have objected
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to the title of the magazine. Therefore, a contest has been
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announced to search for a new title. The winner will receive
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mention and a free subscription.
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You may also vote to retain the current title.
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So far, exchanging Lucifer for Phosphorous has been suggested, as
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well as for Prometheus. There has been a suggestion for Beyond
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Belief. Apparently, a new title means a new ISSN, which is not a
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big problem.
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Awaiting your responses.
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[.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.][.]
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==><====><====><====><====><====><====><====><====><====><==
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|| Begging portion of the Zine ||
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==><====><====><====><====><====><====><====><====><====><==
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This is a "sharezine." There is no charge for receiving this, and
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there is no charge for distributing copies to any electronic
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medium. Nor is there a restriction on printing a copy for use in
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discussion. You may not charge to do so, and you may not do so
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without attributing it to the proper author and source.
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If you would like to support our efforts, and help us acquire
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better equipment to bring you more and better articles, you may
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send money to Greg Erwin at: 29, ch Grimes / Aylmer, Qc / J9J 1H4
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/ CANADA. The will change on 1994 July 1 to: 100 Terrasse Eardley
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/ Aylmer, Qc J9H 6B5.
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==><====><====><====><====><====><====><====><====><====><==
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|| End of Begging portion of the Zine ||
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==><====><====><====><====><====><====><====><====><====><==
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Articles will be welcomed IF:
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(
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they are emailed to: ai815@FreeNet.Carleton.CA; or,
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sent on diskette to me at the above Aylmer address in any format
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that an IBM copy of WordPerfect can read; ) and
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they don't require huge amounts of editing; and
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I like them.
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If you wish to receive a subscription, email a simple request to
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ai815@FreeNet.Carleton.CA, with a clear request for a subscription.
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It will be assumed that the "From:" address is where it is to be
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sent. We will automate this process as soon as we know how.
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Yes, please DO make copies!
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Please DO send copies of Lucifer's Echo to anyone who might be
|
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interested.
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The only limitations are:
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You must copy the whole document, without making any changes to it.
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You do NOT have permission to copy this document for commercial
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purposes.
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The contents of this document are copyright (c) 1994, Greg Erwin
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and are on deposit at the National Library of Canada
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Preface:
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I want to get this information out, and announce the contest for a
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new name. Because this has to do with crimes of the clergy, (a
|
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notoriously immoral and crime-prone group), it is exceptionally
|
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long. Thus, it would have been hard to include it with the
|
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continuing articles "Christianity on Trial for Crimes against
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Humanity," by Dr. Wendell Watters; a four part series beginning in
|
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issue 2; and "Anti-Semitism, Its Prevalence Within the Christian
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Right," by Skipp Porteous, a two part series beginning in issue 3.
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/=\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\
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Shameless advertising and crass commercialism:
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\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\_/=\/=\_/
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Atheistic self-stick Avery(tm) address labels. Consisting of 180
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different quotes, 30 per page, each label 2 5/8" x 1". This leaves
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three 49 character lines available for your own address, phone
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number, email, fax or whatever. Each sheet is US$2, the entire set
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of 6 for US$11; 2 sets for US$20. Indicate quantity desired. Print
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address clearly, exactly as desired. Order from address in
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examples below. Laser printed, 8 pt Arial, with occasional
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flourishes.
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_________________________________________________
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|"Reality is that which, when you stop believing |
|
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|in it, doesn't go away." [Philip K. Dick] |
|
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|Greg Erwin 100 Terrasse Eardley |
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|Aylmer, Qc J9H 6B5 Canada |
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| email: ai815@FreeNet.Carleton.CA |
|
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|________________________________________________|
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|
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_________________________________________________
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|"...and when you tell me that your deity made |
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|you in his own image, I reply that he must be |
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|very ugly." [Victor Hugo, writing to clergy] |
|
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|Greg Erwin 100 Terrasse Eardley |
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|Aylmer, Qc J9H 6B5 Canada Ph: (613) 954-6128 |
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| email: ai815@FreeNet.Carleton.CA |
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|________________________________________________|
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Other stuff for sale:
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Certificate of Baptism Removal and Renunciation of Religion.
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Have your baptism removed, renounce religion, and have a neat 8" x
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For the already baptism-free: Certificate of Freedom from Religion.
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An official atheistic secular humanist stamp of approval for only
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$10!
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Poster 8x11: WARNING! This is a religion free zone!
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All religious vows, codes, and commitments are null & void
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herein. Please refrain from contaminating the ideosphere with
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harmful memes through prayer, reverence, holy books,
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proselytizing, prophesying, faith, speaking in tongues or
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spirituality. Fight the menace of second-hand faith!
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Humanity sincerely thanks you!
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Tastefully arranged in large point Stencil on luxury paper.
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4. Ingersoll poster: "When I became convinced that the
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universe is natural" speech excerpt. 11"x17" See the June
|
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1994 issue of the _Echo_ for full text.
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Order from the same address as above.
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|
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-TABLE OF CONTENTS-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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1. You Won't Believe You're Reading This! from Freethought Today.
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2. Black Collar Crimes, from Freethought Today.
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/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
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You Won't Believe You're Reading This!
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[Freethought Today, April 1994]
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Good Guys Wear Black? The week after charges of sexual abuse
|
|
against Cardinal Joseph Bernardin were dropped, Chicago
|
|
Sun-Times editorial cartoonist Jack Higgins presented the
|
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cardinal with the original drawing of a cartoon featuring a
|
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smiling Bernardin, with the words "Good Guys Wear Black."
|
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The newspaper even carried a posed picture with Bernardin
|
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and Higgins. How cozy. Source: Chicago Sun-Times, 3/5/94
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Priest: Torch Women Clergy. On the eve of the first
|
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ordinations of women priests in the Church of England, the
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Rev. Anthony Kennedy, London, said he "would burn the bloody
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bitches" alive at the stake. Source: Orange Co. Register,
|
|
3/10/94
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Prayerful Florida. Despite more than 30 years of solid
|
|
precedent against school prayer, the House committee of the
|
|
Florida legislature voted 12-5 to approve a bill to return
|
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prayer to school sports events, graduation ceremonies and
|
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other assemblies. Source: Florida Times-Union, 3/15/94
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Bishop "Bans" Pills. Bishop John J. Myers of Peoria has
|
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banned Catholic hospitals in his diocese from offering
|
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"morning-after pills" to rape victims. Source: Springfield
|
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Sunday Republican
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Walker Story Banned, Reinstated. Following a campaign by the
|
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Traditional Values Coalition led by Beverly Sheldon, the
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|
California Board of Education committee in December pulled a
|
|
7-page story, "Roselily," by Pulitzer Prize-winning author
|
|
Alice Walker, from a statewide English test, for being
|
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"anti-religious." Then Gov. Wilson endorsed a decision by
|
|
the state Board of Education to pull another Walker story
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(for being "anti-meat-eating") from a statewide English
|
|
exam. Walker then rejected a Governor's Arts Award, which
|
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would have designated her as a "state treasure." She agreed
|
|
to accept the award only after the state Board of Education
|
|
voted unanimously to reverse itself in March and return
|
|
stories by Walker and Annie Dillard to future achievement
|
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tests for public students. Source: San Francisco Chronicle,
|
|
3/12/94
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Another Virgin Mary Sighting. Up to 5,000 Cincinnati-area
|
|
residents gathered on Jan. 8, and 500-1,000 on Feb. 8 to
|
|
await a Virgin Mary apparition as a self-avowed visionary
|
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claimed to receive a message from Mary in a farm in
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Falmouth, Kentucky. Source: Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/9/94
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Fairfax Buys Anti-Gay Books. Following Christian lobbying,
|
|
Fairfax Co. library officials ordered more than 100 copies
|
|
of 11 anti-gay books, spending $1,100 to placate Christians
|
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angered that 22 libraries permit the Washington Blade, a gay
|
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newspaper, to be distributed in county libraries. Source:
|
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Washington Post, 2/5/94
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Praying Women Beaten In Court. The 25 women who were beaten
|
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with chairs, pelted with mud, spat upon, and berated as
|
|
"pigs" by the ultra-orthodox for daring to pray at
|
|
Jerusalem's Western Wall 5 years ago suffered a defeat
|
|
before the Israeli Supreme Court. It denied their petition
|
|
to protect the right of all Jewish women to pray. Source:
|
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Springfield Sunday Republican, 1/30/94
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Nothing To Fear But Ignorance. When Dr. Jack Kevorkian
|
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quietly moved from his apartment to a bungalow in West
|
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Bloomfield Township, Michigan, a new neighbor told a
|
|
reporter: "I'm not afraid of him. I don't think he'll bother
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me, because I have a German shepherd." Source: Detroit Free
|
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Press, 3/11/94
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Daniel Maguire Dis-Invited. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los
|
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Angeles revoked a speaking invitation to former priest
|
|
Daniel Maguire of Marquette University to attend a Catholic
|
|
education congress: "I will not abide the presence of any
|
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speaker at our congress who teaches anything contrary to the
|
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full teachings of our Catholic Church." Source: L.A. Times,
|
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2/11/94
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Deacon Charged In Crossbow Killing. A church deacon, Donald
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Graham, 54, of Woonsocket, RI, received support from his
|
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First Baptist Church after he was charged with shooting an
|
|
ambulance attendant in the chest with a crossbow after a
|
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traffic argument, getting back in his car and driving home
|
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with his wife. Michael Blodgett, 42, died 6 hours later.
|
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Source: Scripps Howard News Service, 2/22/94
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Christian Network Cancels Gay Shows. Producers of two gay TV
|
|
programs in Key West, Florida, say the owner of a small
|
|
station canceled their shows due to pressure by the
|
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Christian Trinity Broadcasting Network, which buys time on
|
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the channel. Source: Springfield Union-News, 3/1/94
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============================================================
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|| END OF ARTICLE ||
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============================================================
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/******** A plea from the folks at FFRF: if you have any
|
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further information about the crimes referred to in the
|
|
following clips, please communicate the same to them. If
|
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you would like to be a part of the network, please clip and
|
|
send "Black Collar Crimes" to Freedom From Religion
|
|
Foundation P.O. Box 750 Madison, WI 53701. Make sure to
|
|
have the clipping include the newspaper name and
|
|
date. There is an organization known as VOCAL, the Victims
|
|
of Clergy Abuse Link-up, if you are, or know of a victim of
|
|
clergy abuse. You will have to get the address from FFRF, I
|
|
can't find it.***************/
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|
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Black Collar Crimes
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Freethought Today
|
|
April, 1994
|
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Compiled By Denise McLaughlin
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ARIZONA
|
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Man Sues Diocese For Molestation. While an altar boy in 1975
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at Sacred Heart Church, Robert M. Delgado, now 30, says
|
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Brother Jorge Ortiz Lopez sexually assaulted him in the
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rectory. Delgado has filed suit against the Diocese of
|
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Phoenix and the Franciscan Fathers of Arizona. Though a
|
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police report indicated Delgado was intoxicated when he
|
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entered Lopez's room, Lopez takes full responsibility and
|
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punishment. The suit says the defendants promised to pay for
|
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Delgado's counseling but have reneged on the agreement.
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Source: Arizona Republic, 2/5/94
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CALIFORNIA
|
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Assault Case Settled. A man, 28, who was recovering from
|
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epileptic seizures in his apartment when he was attacked,
|
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will receive $300,000 in damages from the Sierra Vista
|
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Baptist Church for the sexual assault by John Adams Marshall
|
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in April 1991. Marshall performed oral sex and fondled the
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weakened man while pinning him down. The jury found the
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church 40% liable for Marshall's assault and negligent in
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retaining him as minister. Marshall did not lose his
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ordination to be a minister elsewhere. Source: Inland Valley
|
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Daily Bulletin, 1/8,15/94
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Church Paper Omits Priest Abuse Ad. A national meeting for
|
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victims of sexual abuse by priests was held in Marina del
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Rey in late January. The group attempted for 3 weeks to
|
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publish an ad for the meeting in Tidings, the newspaper of
|
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the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The church claims the ad was
|
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lost from the computer due to the earthquake on Jan. 17.
|
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This is the second time the paper has failed to run an ad
|
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relating to sexual abuse by priests. Barbara Blaine, founder
|
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of the survivors network, said, "I don't believe that their
|
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excuses are the real reasons that the ad did not run."
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Source: Los Angeles Times, 1/28/94
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|
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Court Overturns Conviction. Even though the jury gave guilty
|
|
verdicts against Jon L. Walker, 45, pastor of Springfield
|
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Baptist Church in San Luis Obispo, the court overturned the
|
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1992 conviction of child sexual molestation and abuse of his
|
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female cousin, because one of the jurors may have concealed
|
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that he knew Walker and the woman. Both the defense and the
|
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prosecution urged the judge to investigate the juror, but he
|
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refused, with no reason. The woman, now 19, testified that
|
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Walker began molesting her when she was 11 and began
|
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intercourse when she was in 9th grade, until she was 15. She
|
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now doubts whether she can go through another trial. The
|
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defense requested bail and release of Walker, who is serving
|
|
a 12 year, 8 month prison sentence. Walker will remain
|
|
imprisoned. Source: Telegram Tribune, 2/15/94, 2/24/94
|
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|
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Youth Leader Accused Of Child Molesting. Fullerton's First
|
|
Evangelical Free Church has a second associate accused of
|
|
pedophilia. Michael Webb Blinkhorn, 29, was the youth leader
|
|
and is now facing 18 felony counts for sexually assaulting 4
|
|
boys, aged 12-15, in his apartment over a 3 year period. He
|
|
could receive up to 30 years in prison if convicted of all
|
|
counts. Blinkhorn was very well liked in the church, until
|
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now. Source: Orange County Register, 3/10/94
|
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|
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Trading Cards Sport Clergy Perverts. A California trading
|
|
card company, Mother Productions of Anaheim, has come out
|
|
with their latest set, which features 36 religious leaders
|
|
who have fallen from grace. Each cleric's card has a
|
|
computer-generated likeness and a recount of his or her
|
|
sexual misdeeds. A set is available for about $10. Source:
|
|
York Daily Record, 3/15/94
|
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|
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TV Talk Show Host Jailed For Rape. The former talk show host
|
|
who equates himself with Jesus and MLK was sentenced to 14
|
|
years in prison for the rape of a girl, 13. Tito David
|
|
Valdez, Jr., 23, said (in an 8-page handwritten letter to
|
|
the judge) he is innocent because he would not have raped
|
|
the girl because he thinks she is ugly. Psychological
|
|
counseling was ordered. Source: AP, 3/94
|
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|
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Priestess Prostitute. A judge ruled that Church of the Most
|
|
High Goddess, which requires self-proclaimed priestess, Mary
|
|
Ellen Tracy, to have sex with parishioners, was not exempt
|
|
from prostitution and pandering laws. Tracy and her husband
|
|
claim they are victims of discriminatory prosecution. They
|
|
served 5-6 months in jail for prostitution and operating a
|
|
house of prostitution respectively. Source: Los Angeles
|
|
Times, 3/16/94
|
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|
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CONNECTICUT
|
|
Manspeaker Sentenced. For sexually molesting and showing
|
|
pornographic material to 2 boys, aged 14 and 17, Terry
|
|
Manspeaker, 37, former deacon of St. Lucy's church, was
|
|
sentenced to 5 years probation and must continue sexual
|
|
offender therapy. Manspeaker was charged with a third boy's
|
|
molestation but the case was dropped to secure the guilty
|
|
plea for the first 2. Manspeaker had attended seminary but
|
|
was denied entry into priesthood because of allegations of
|
|
sexual misconduct. Source: Sunday Republican, 1/30/94
|
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|
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Priest On Trial. Accused of sexually assaulting 15 children
|
|
from 1966 to 1982, Rev. Raymond Pcolka will stand trial in
|
|
Superior Court. Details of the case were not released for
|
|
public use. Source: Union-News, 3/19/94
|
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|
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FLORIDA
|
|
Grandmother Sues Over Child's Abuse. The Diocese of Venice,
|
|
Rev. Charles M. Cikovic and Bishop John J. Nevins of St.
|
|
Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Fort Myers are defendants
|
|
in a civil suit involving sexual abuse. Cikovic has admitted
|
|
to having sexual contact with a girl, 14. He was sentenced
|
|
in September to 6 months in jail and 20 years of probation
|
|
and is prohibited from contact with minors. The grandmother
|
|
of the child has filed suit for an undisclosed sum. The
|
|
grandmother had been taking the girl for counseling with the
|
|
priest because her parents had divorced. A parish employee
|
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stated that Cikovic had taken girls on trips, and bought
|
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them gifts, They said the priest made them "feel yucky."
|
|
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 2/10/94
|
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|
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Priest Resigns Amid Allegations. Though he denied any
|
|
wrongdoing, Rev. Gary Timmons, 53, resigned from St.
|
|
Bernard's Church as pastor and dean of students. He is
|
|
accused of sexually molesting 2 Santa Rosa boys at summer
|
|
camp over a decade ago. Timmons has served in Santa Rosa,
|
|
Rohnert Park and Eureka the past 3 decades. No lawsuits are
|
|
pending, though the two men are considering suing. Source:
|
|
Blade-Citizen, 2/5/94
|
|
|
|
Church To Pay Millions For Minister's Abuses. Wayside
|
|
Baptist Church in Miami received a $6.7 million judgment for
|
|
negligence in hiring and retaining Keith Geren as youth
|
|
minister. The church did not do background or reference
|
|
checks, nor did Geren even fill out a job application,
|
|
though Geren did admit urges to molest boys. He sexually
|
|
molested nearly a dozen teenage boys. Church officials say
|
|
they had no idea Geren was a pedophile. All of the money is
|
|
going to one victim, Daniel Artis, for emotional pain,
|
|
treatment and punitive damages. Source: Sarasota
|
|
Herald-Tribune, 2/6/94
|
|
|
|
GEORGIA
|
|
Baptist Minister Accused. For being accused of sexually
|
|
molesting several male teens between Sept. '92-93 while
|
|
serving as youth minister at Western Hills Baptist Church in
|
|
Cobb County, Kevin DeRosa, 33, of New Jersey, is being held
|
|
at the Paulding County jail on similar charges in that
|
|
county. Source: Atlanta Journal, 3/94
|
|
|
|
ILLINOIS
|
|
Another Belleville Priest Leaves. The 8th Belleville diocese
|
|
priest to go on leave for sex abuse accusations is Rev.
|
|
Louis Peterson. He denied the allegations of abusing a male
|
|
teen over 10 years ago. No criminal charges were filed. The
|
|
diocese has set up a telephone hotline for victims to report
|
|
priests. Source: Post-Dispatch, 1/25/94
|
|
|
|
Man Asks Diocese To Pay. Kevin Mohr, 31, says he was
|
|
sexually abused, fondled, harassed and forced to entice gay
|
|
men to a group of homosexual priests when he was 13. He
|
|
spent nearly a year trying to get the Diocese of Belleville
|
|
to pay for this therapy. Mohr has hired an attorney but does
|
|
not plan to sue the church.Source: Post-Dispatch, 2/7/94
|
|
|
|
IOWA
|
|
Grindstaff Admits Affair. On Jan. 10, 1995 a jury will hear
|
|
the case involving Edward Grindstaff, Storm Lake Faith
|
|
United Assembly of God minister, and Lori Johnson. She says
|
|
that she and Grindstaff had a sexual affair for 5 years,
|
|
producing a child, while she was in marital counseling.
|
|
Grindstaff confessed in August, but now claims he was the
|
|
victim of sexual abuse and that he was threatened by Mrs.
|
|
Johnson if they broke up. Source: Pilot Tribune, 3/8/94
|
|
|
|
MAINE
|
|
"Gay" Priest Acquitted Of Molesting Girl. The Rev. Antonin
|
|
R. Caron, 51, who was rumored to be homosexual, was
|
|
acquitted in Superior Court in March for sexually assaulting
|
|
with his hands and a pencil, a girl, 15, in May of 1992.
|
|
The girl waited a year before telling anyone, at which point
|
|
she told her tennis coach of the assault. Source: Bangor
|
|
Daily News, 3/22,23,25/94
|
|
|
|
MASSACHUSETTS
|
|
Diocese Pays Lavigne's Victims. The Diocese of Springfield
|
|
has agreed to pay more than $1 million to 17 victims of Rev.
|
|
Richard R. Lavigne with the help of an insurance company.
|
|
However, the victims are not permitted to discuss the
|
|
specifics of the settlement lest they lose part of the
|
|
money. Lavigne pleaded guilty to child molestation but has
|
|
served no prison time. The diocese has assured its
|
|
parishioners that the money for the case did not come from
|
|
their contributions, but from insurance and
|
|
investments.Source: Union-News, 1/28/94, 2/18/94; Providence
|
|
Journal, 3/19/94
|
|
|
|
Priest Acquitted. A Catholic priest of St. Pius X Church in
|
|
Middleton met a boy, 16, on a ski trip, then plied him with
|
|
Scotch and fondled him in his car and motel room. The boy
|
|
was a runaway from a school for emotionally troubled youths.
|
|
Thomas K. Ahearn, 56, was acquitted of molesting the boy,
|
|
but convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
|
|
He was sentenced to 2 years probation. The church relieved
|
|
Ahearn of his duties immediately . His future with the
|
|
church is uncertain. The mother felt the sentence was far
|
|
too light and says, "I'm a devout Catholic, and every time I
|
|
go to church I just want to throw up." Source: AP, Hartford
|
|
Courant, 3/8/94; Berkshire Eagle, 3/5,9/94,
|
|
|
|
Nuns Attend Abuse Seminar. Though the March 5 workshop at
|
|
Regis College entitled "Sexual Abuse and the Church:
|
|
Assisting In A Pastoral Response," was open to the public,
|
|
no priests attended. About 100 Boston nuns did show up for
|
|
the seminar on sexual abuse in the church, its history,
|
|
prevention, detection and treatment. Source: AP, Sunday
|
|
Republican, 3/6/94
|
|
|
|
Pastor Delays Reporting Abuse. After a church volunteer
|
|
received letters from a girl, 15, that she was being
|
|
sexually abused by her stepfather, Truth Baptist Church's
|
|
Rev. Jim Rowley and another pastor began counseling the
|
|
father, who admitted abusing the girl. Rowley waited 6
|
|
months before reporting the abuse to authorities. He was
|
|
arrested and charged with a misdemeanor mandatory-reporting
|
|
violation and felony count of a risk of injury to a minor.
|
|
Clergy claim the law that is designed to help and protect
|
|
children violates their right to freely practice religion.
|
|
The stepfather was charged with over 30 counts of sexual
|
|
assault of the girl. He is now free on bond. Source:
|
|
Union-News, 2/28/94
|
|
|
|
Hanlon Guilty. Despite the support of 50 character
|
|
witnesses, the former pastor of St. Paul's Church in Hingham
|
|
was convicted of rape and assault of William Wood, now 27,
|
|
when he was an altar boy, 14 years ago. This is the second
|
|
trial; the first trial, involving testimony from 2 other
|
|
men, was deadlocked. Rev. John R. Hanlon, 65, will be
|
|
sentenced after 40 days of observation for pedophilia at
|
|
Bridgewater State Hospital. Wood's 2 brothers also testified
|
|
at both trials that they were molested by Hanlon. Hanlon's
|
|
attorney plans to appeal. Hanlon could face life in prison.
|
|
His family continues to support his innocence. Source:
|
|
Boston Globe, 3/15,16/94; Providence Journal, 3/16/94;
|
|
Springfield Union-News, 3/16/94
|
|
|
|
MISSOURI
|
|
Priest Removed. After being accused of sexually molesting a
|
|
male minor 20 years ago, Rev. Walter MacPherson, 70, of St.
|
|
Martin of Tours parish near east St. Louis, has been removed
|
|
from his parish pending an investigation. Many parishioners
|
|
refused to believe the accusations and asked how to help the
|
|
priest. Source: Chicago Sun-Times, 2/5/94; Post Dispatch,
|
|
2/5/94
|
|
|
|
Church Pays Hush Money To Accuser. The Catholic Diocese of
|
|
Kansas City paid Richard Durocher $150,000 to silence his
|
|
accusations that he was sexually abused by Rev. John R.
|
|
Tulipana, 47, when he was 16, over a decade ago. Durocher
|
|
says officials have failed to remove Tulipana from contact
|
|
with minors as he is still actively serving in the diocese.
|
|
For this Durocher decided to break his secrecy agreement.
|
|
Tulipana has subsequently resigned because he felt he could
|
|
no longer be effective. Bishop Raymond Boland said a
|
|
diocesan board will investigate the allegations. Source:
|
|
Sunday Republican, 1/30/94; Columbia Daily Tribune, 1/30/94;
|
|
News-Press, 1/30/94; AP, 2/2/94
|
|
|
|
Minister Gets 189 Years. For the sexual assault of 2 boys,
|
|
both 15, the minister of the now defunct Family Life Church
|
|
in Park Hills has been sentenced to serve at least 28 years
|
|
in prison before he is eligible for parole. Rev. Richard L.
|
|
Jones, 30, was sentenced to 189 years for sexually
|
|
assaulting the boys in his home and car in 1990-91. He told
|
|
them it was sanctioned in the bible. In court Jones claimed
|
|
the boys were trying to seek revenge when he confronted
|
|
their drinking and sexual activities. Source: News-Leader,
|
|
3/16/94; AP 2/8/94
|
|
|
|
Baptist Deacon On Trial. A former basketball coach, high
|
|
school teacher and Baptist deacon who was shot 5 times by
|
|
the father of a girl who accuses him of sexually abusing
|
|
her, is standing trial. A dozen girls have accused Wallace
|
|
Bobo, 57, of fondling them. He is charged with one count of
|
|
sexual abuse. Source: Post Dispatch, 2/15/94
|
|
|
|
Man Sues Priest. Nicholas Gray has sued the Kansas City-St.
|
|
Joseph Catholic diocese and Rev. Thomas J. Ward accusing him
|
|
of sexually abusing him at the church rectory when he was 14
|
|
. Ward denies the accusations and is on paid leave. The
|
|
lawsuit claims the diocese operated to cover up the abuse.
|
|
Source: Kirksville Daily Express & News, 2/6/94; Examiner,
|
|
2/4/94
|
|
Kansas City Support Group Forms. The national organization
|
|
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, SNAP, has
|
|
formed a chapter in Kansas City following recent local
|
|
accusations of sex abuse by priests. Most in attendance have
|
|
been abused, others were family of victims. The chapter will
|
|
be meeting on a regular basis. Source: Kansas City Star,
|
|
3/5/94
|
|
|
|
MONTANA
|
|
Former Priest Admits Abusing 30 Boys. In 1993 a civil suit
|
|
involving the Rev. Wilson Smart, 63, and plaintiff,
|
|
"W.T.M.," now 38, was settled for $1.7 million. In his
|
|
deposition Smart admitted sexually abusing and sometimes
|
|
photographing 30 boys, as young as 12, between 1957 and
|
|
1978, including W.T.M. for 8 years. He blames his
|
|
abusiveness on alcohol abuse and spent 5 months at the
|
|
Servants of the Paraclete center in New Mexico. He said he
|
|
met the boys in Scouting troops, in parishes or while
|
|
teaching and often molested them as they slept. He told no
|
|
one of the abuse, except in the protected privacy of
|
|
confession. He says he took no vow of chastity though he
|
|
knew it was morally wrong. Smart resigned from the
|
|
priesthood in May 1990. Case documents indicate that the
|
|
church knew of the abuse since 1960, but did not remove
|
|
Smart. W.T.M.'s lawyer asked the judge to open court
|
|
documents to counter information the church was distributing
|
|
about the case.Source: Missoulian, 2/4/94; Billings Gazette,
|
|
2/6/94; Independent Record, 2/4/94
|
|
|
|
NEW HAMPSHIRE
|
|
Priest Pleads Guilty To Abuse. After admitting to forcing a
|
|
boy, 14, to perform oral sex on him at the rectory of the
|
|
Immaculate Conception Church in Troy in the early 1980s,
|
|
Rev. Leo Shea, 67, has been sentenced to 3-6 years in state
|
|
prison and agreed to participate in a sexual offender
|
|
program at the prison for at least a year. Shea also faces
|
|
charges in Massachusetts for sexually assaulting 8 teen boys
|
|
almost 2 decades ago.
|
|
Source: Boston Globe, 3/1/94; AP, 3/3/94
|
|
|
|
NEW JERSEY
|
|
LaForge Spared. The pastor accused of aiding a fugitive, who
|
|
was charged with sexual abuse, has been approved for the
|
|
Pre-Trial Intervention Program because it was a first time
|
|
offense and he has health problems. Rev. Joseph M. LaForge,
|
|
56, has severe diabetes and now resides in North Carolina.
|
|
He was charged with covertly giving Rev. Florencia Tumang a
|
|
$5,000 church check, with which Tumang fled the country.
|
|
LaForge's charges will be dismissed upon completion of PTI.
|
|
Source: Courier-Post, 1/21/94
|
|
|
|
Boy Scout Leader Degraded Boys. A Boy Scout leader has
|
|
pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of 2 boys during a
|
|
camping trip. Timothy Price, 34, said in testimony that he
|
|
exposed himself and touched 2 boys sexually "mostly just
|
|
(for) humiliation." He added that, "I just hope this did not
|
|
traumatize me." He faces prison or treatment and is now free
|
|
on $10,000 bail. Price is no longer involved in Scouts.
|
|
Source: Today's Sunbeam, 3/6/94
|
|
|
|
NEW MEXICO
|
|
Santa Fe Diocese Settled 46 Cases. In the past 2 months the
|
|
Diocese of Santa Fe has settled 46 sexual abuse cases and is
|
|
being helped by its insurers, who still maintain they have
|
|
no liability in the cases. About 300,000 parishioners have
|
|
contributed $1.5 million to the settlements. But if the
|
|
insurance companies are not found liable to pay, the diocese
|
|
will have to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Two
|
|
insurance carriers have sued the diocese saying they are not
|
|
liable, because the church knew of the abuses and did not
|
|
stop it or report it. Archbishop Michael Sheehan implies
|
|
knowledge of the abuse by saying, "No archbishop realized
|
|
fully the terrible harm of pedophilia. There was no
|
|
intention of harm." Source: Dallas Morning News, 2/14/94
|
|
|
|
16 Sigler Civil Suits Settled. Money from insurance
|
|
companies and parishioners paid for the settlements of 16
|
|
cases of sexual abuse by former priest, Jason Sigler. So far
|
|
45 cases against Sigler have been resolved. He was convicted
|
|
of abusing altar boys in the 1970s and '80s, after being
|
|
treated 3 times for pedophilia. He pleaded guilty in 1983 to
|
|
sex with a minor in exchange for a deferred sentence.
|
|
Source: AP/Centre Daily Times, 2/8/94
|
|
|
|
NEW YORK
|
|
Ex-Priest Sues Church, Pope. A man who spent 25 years as a
|
|
Roman Catholic priest, resigned in 1989 and is now
|
|
attempting to sue the Church, Pope John Paul II and Cardinal
|
|
John O'Connor of New York. Terence German, 51, says he knew
|
|
of clergy theft and pedophilia in every state he worked,
|
|
though he never reported it. He also claims that although
|
|
the pope points a finger at the U.S., there is clergy
|
|
pedophilia in Rome that the pope is ignoring. Now German is
|
|
unemployed and soon to be homeless. He says the church has
|
|
blackballed him and ruined his reputation as an employee. He
|
|
says he resigned as priest because the church was not
|
|
following its own rules. The New York Archdiocese lawyers
|
|
call the suit ludicrous. Sources: St. Petersburg Times,
|
|
2/12/94; Chicago Sun Times, 2/12/94
|
|
|
|
Rabbi Indicted For Sexual Assault. Rabbi and best-selling
|
|
author, Frederick Werbell, 52, was indicted for the sexual
|
|
assault of 2 females, his housecleaner, 39, and a job
|
|
applicant, 24, in his apartment. He is being held on $50,000
|
|
bail. He could face 7 years in prison. Source: New York
|
|
Post, 3/11/94
|
|
|
|
Former Catholic Deacon/Principal Accused. A former deacon at
|
|
Precious Blood Church in Long Island City and popular Queens
|
|
school principal of P.S. 71 has been accused of giving a
|
|
male student, 13, cleaner fumes to inhale and performing
|
|
oral sex on him 15 years ago. Edward Huckemeyer admitted the
|
|
offense and implied it was his only transgression of that
|
|
nature. At the time of the incident Huckemeyer was a
|
|
creative writing teacher at J.H.S. 226 in Ozone Park. The
|
|
victim began to recall the incident in nightmares at the
|
|
time he was making plans for his wedding. Source: New York
|
|
Newsday, 3/12/94
|
|
|
|
OHIO
|
|
Priest's File Ordered Open. A state appellate court ordered
|
|
the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to open the files on Rev.
|
|
George Cooley. Cooley was convicted of molesting 4 boys in
|
|
1983-4. Parents of one of the boys, who has since died, are
|
|
suing Cooley and the archdiocese.To be turned over are
|
|
records of Cooley's conversation with a psychologist after
|
|
an earlier sexual contact with a boy and a secret
|
|
archdiocesan archive on Cooley. State law does not exempt
|
|
clergy from reporting suspected child abuse.Source:
|
|
Cincinnati Enquirer, 1/27/94
|
|
|
|
Bernardin Dropped From Case. Facing possible sanctions for
|
|
filing a frivolous lawsuit and advice from Bernardin's
|
|
attorneys "to do the right thing," Steven J. Cook, 34,
|
|
dropped Cardinal Joseph Bernardin from a civil suit charging
|
|
sexual abuse. Alhough Cook says he remembered some of the
|
|
abuse in 1970, there is no evidence to prove that the
|
|
memories were not introduced during hypnosis, according to
|
|
court documents. The A.M.A. recognized hypnosis as valid, as
|
|
early as 1958, but there is no consensus on its use in
|
|
recalling repressed memories. Rev. Ellis Harsham remains a
|
|
defendant in the case, which goes to trial May 9. Bernardin
|
|
has no plans to countersue Cook. Sources: Wisconsin State
|
|
Journal, 3/1/94; Washington Post, 2/12/94, 3/1/94; Los
|
|
Angeles Times, 3/1/94; Chicago Sun-Times, 3/1/94;
|
|
Indianapolis Star, 3/5/94
|
|
|
|
OREGON
|
|
Youth Pastor And Girl Run Away. Youth pastor and bible study
|
|
teacher of Hope Christian Church in Central Point, Brett
|
|
Aaron Rossback, 25, is being held on $80,000 bail, on
|
|
charges of rape, sodomy and sex abuse of church member
|
|
Stacie Webber, 13. The family of the girl had known Rossback
|
|
for 3 years when he abducted her. The child, now with her
|
|
mother in Oregon, was gone for 6 weeks. The child's
|
|
stepfather said, "We don't want the church getting a bad
|
|
name." Source: Daily Barometer, 2/3/94; Register-Guard,
|
|
3/9/94; Mail Tribune, 3/16/94
|
|
|
|
PENNSYLVANIA
|
|
Priest's Habit Was Touching Boys. The Rev. Francis E. Luddy,
|
|
accused of molesting at least 4 boys, is being sued for
|
|
unspecified damages by his godson, Michael Hutchinson, Jr.,
|
|
26, who also names St. Therese's parish in Altoona and the
|
|
Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. He says he was molested over a
|
|
decade ago. Luddy admits to molesting boys, including
|
|
Hutchinson's stepbrother, as far back as 1968 and said it
|
|
grew into a habit. Hutchinson testified that he received
|
|
money from Luddy for sexual favors in the early '80s.
|
|
Hutchinson has testified that the abuse began both when he
|
|
was 8 and when he was 11. This discrepancy led the defense
|
|
to challenge the plaintiffs credibility. Now retired Bishop
|
|
James Hogan testified that 3 priests (Rev. William Kovach,
|
|
Dennis Coleman and Joseph Gaborick) confessed to him that
|
|
they sexually abused children, but he only told them to keep
|
|
their mouths shut and "cool it" with the boys because the
|
|
"danger flags are up" that the diocese could be legally
|
|
liable for their actions. He admits never contacting the
|
|
parents of the children nor warning the officials of
|
|
parishes he relocated the priests into of the priests' past
|
|
behavior. Msgr. Philip Saylor testified that he informed
|
|
Hogan that Rev. Thomas Carroll had sexually molested a boy
|
|
and that Hogan only told Saylor to find a psychiatrist for
|
|
Carroll. Source: Centre Daily Times, 2/4,17/94, 3/4,10/94;
|
|
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 2/18/94, 3/8/94; Tribune-Democrat,
|
|
2/94, 3/19/94; Clearfield Progress, 3/8/94
|
|
|
|
Salvation Army Verdict Controversial. For being sexually
|
|
abused by Salvation Army bible teacher Gary Hallock, 4 boys
|
|
and their parents were awarded over $500,000 in compensatory
|
|
damages for the years of therapy needed, but only $1 each
|
|
for punitive damages. Although an officer of the Army knew
|
|
of Hallock's pedophilia years ago, the Army was not held
|
|
responsible for the abuse. Hallock is serving a 36-72 year
|
|
jail term and has admitted to abusing 30 children. The
|
|
plaintiffs' lawyer was seeking $4 million in the case and
|
|
accused jurors of wanting child abuse to continue because
|
|
they did not award high punitive damages. Source: Tribune,
|
|
2/18, 22/94; Tribune-Democrat, 2/94
|
|
|
|
Cipolla Returns. The Pittsburgh Catholic priest, who was
|
|
banned from ministry in 1989 for accusations of child
|
|
molestation, said Mass on national television on February
|
|
17. Rev. Anthony Cipolla, 50, said the Mass with 3 other
|
|
priests on Eternal Word Television Network, locally carried
|
|
on TCI. The diocese now has no power over Cipolla and can
|
|
only warn bishops not to allow him to minister in their
|
|
parishes. Though forbidden to even wear clerical garb, he
|
|
donned a purple chasuble and alb. A network spokesperson
|
|
said he was unaware of the ban and Cipolla's attorney said
|
|
the ban is no longer valid. Cipolla maintains his innocence.
|
|
Bishop Donald W. Wuerl had appealed the Vatican's decision
|
|
to reinstate Cipolla. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
|
|
2/18/94
|
|
|
|
Pastor Molests. Former associate pastor of Cornerstone
|
|
Baptist Church and parent representative at Pittsburgh's
|
|
Margaret Milliones Middle School, Rev. Rudolph B. Walls, 43,
|
|
was a defendant in a lawsuit filed in May 1992 by a male
|
|
teen and his mother. Walls was accused of sexually molesting
|
|
the teen, now 18. Also involved in the suit were the
|
|
principal, school board and Pittsburgh Public Schools. They
|
|
settled for $425,000. In August 1991 Walls was sentenced 1-5
|
|
years in prison for indecent assault. Walls was on probation
|
|
for a North Carolina molestation at the time he began
|
|
assaulting the teen in this lawsuit. Source: Pittsburgh
|
|
Post-Gazette, 2/24/94
|
|
|
|
RHODE ISLAND
|
|
Priest Accused Of Rape. In a civil suit, Cynthia M. Lewis is
|
|
suing Rev. Alfred R. Desrosiers, 58, as well as the Diocese
|
|
of Providence, Bishop Louis Gelineau, Rev. Roger Marot, Rev.
|
|
Edward Cardente and St. Joan of Arc parish for negligence in
|
|
hiring and retaining Desrosiers, whom she accused of
|
|
statutory rape, which began in 1972 when she was 15 and
|
|
lasted almost 2 years. She says Desrosiers, as often as 4
|
|
times a week, would invite her to his apartment, give her
|
|
alcohol and rape her, while he claimed it was his
|
|
responsibility to teach her about sex and that he could only
|
|
continue serving the people of god because she was in his
|
|
life. The suit seeks unspecified damages. Memories of the
|
|
abuse surfaced when Lewis' dying mother requested to see the
|
|
priest, a long time friend of the family. Source: Providence
|
|
Journal-Bulletin, 3/9/94
|
|
|
|
Bishop Coverup? Five Rhode Island residents are suing Most
|
|
Rev. Louis Gelineau, Bishop Kenneth Angell and Bishop Daniel
|
|
Reilly for ignoring evidence of their sexual abuse by 4
|
|
priests (Rev. James Silva, Rev. William O'Connell, Rev.
|
|
Robert Marcantonio and Rev. Alfred DesrosiersQall of whom
|
|
have previously been accused of sexual abuse) and negligence
|
|
in hiring and maintaining the priests. The bishops deny the
|
|
charges. Source: AP, Boston Globe, 3/18/94; Providence
|
|
Journal, 3/18/94; Union-News, 3/18/94; Hartford Courant,
|
|
3/22/94
|
|
|
|
SOUTH DAKOTA
|
|
Diocese Dropped. The diocese of Rapid City has been dropped
|
|
from the lawsuit involving a priest accused of molesting an
|
|
altar boy, beginning when he was 12. Robert Koenig, now
|
|
adult, filed suit in 1992 against the diocese and Rev.
|
|
William Lambert, alleging Lambert sexually abused him from
|
|
1958-1975 while in Fairfax. The suit said that Lambert also
|
|
forced Koenig to confess his abuse to 17 other priests, who
|
|
did nothing to stop it. Lambert is now retired. Lambert's
|
|
attorney argues that the case should be dismissed altogether
|
|
because the statute of limitations has expired. Since the
|
|
diocese is financially off the hook it is now planning on
|
|
building a $3.5 million high school. Source: Rapid City
|
|
Journal, 1/27/94
|
|
TEXAS
|
|
Seminary Teacher Indicted For Sex Abuse. A Catholic priest
|
|
and dean of men at St. Anthony's High School Seminary has
|
|
been indicted on charges of sexual assault and indecency.
|
|
Rev. Carlos Lozano, 37, of Kingsville, could face 2-20 years
|
|
in prison and fines of $20,000. He was placed on
|
|
administrative leave on Dec. 17. Lozano was receiving
|
|
treatment at a retreat center and has been released on bond.
|
|
The high school had a meeting for parents and an assembly
|
|
for the students, informing them of the allegations, which
|
|
resulted in 4 more students coming forward with allegations.
|
|
Patrick Flores, the Archbishop of San Antonio, in a letter
|
|
to priests, suggested some priests may have known about the
|
|
abuse and not reported it. "We all cherish the priestly
|
|
brotherhood that binds us together, but there is a greater
|
|
loyalty to be served," said Flores. Source: San Antonio
|
|
Express-News, 2/3,4,6/94
|
|
|
|
Priest Indicted On Indecency. The Rev. Johnny Davila, who
|
|
was being investigated by Sacred Heart parish for indecency
|
|
with a girl, was indicted by a grand jury in Uvalde County
|
|
and a warrant for his arrest has been issued. San Antonio
|
|
Archdiocese spokesperson Monsignor Lawrence Stuebben said
|
|
the Lozano (see previous) and Davila cases are not
|
|
connected. He also said, "I wish that these things would go
|
|
away in our society..." Source: San Antonio Express-News,
|
|
2/5/94
|
|
|
|
Baptist Minister Sentenced. For sexually abusing 2 boys who
|
|
were members of his Community Baptist Church near Lake
|
|
Lavon, Gene Allen McDonald, 55, of Nevada, will serve a
|
|
minimum of 2 years in Collin County Jail before parole. He
|
|
was sentenced to 2 concurrent 5-year sentences. Source:
|
|
Dallas Morning News, 2/8/94
|
|
|
|
Boy Scout Leader Indicted For Porn. In addition to being
|
|
charged with molesting his 3 foster children, Donald Ray
|
|
Hause, 43, was indicted for those charges and for sexually
|
|
assaulting 2 boys and possessing child pornography. Source:
|
|
San Antonio Express-News, 3/13/94
|
|
|
|
San Antonio Archdiocese Sued. In district court, 2 lawsuits
|
|
have been filed by 2 families against Rev. Xavier Ortiz
|
|
Deitz and the Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio for the
|
|
abuse of an adult male and 3 minors, one of whom is the
|
|
victim in the criminal case against Deitz to be tried April
|
|
25. In the first case Deitz is said to have sabotaged a
|
|
wedding and sexually harassed the husband and sexually
|
|
molested his minor brother. In the second case Deitz
|
|
allegedly sexually molested a boy and abused his minor
|
|
sister. Source: San Antonio Express-News, 3/25/94
|
|
|
|
UTAH
|
|
Navajo Mormon Tried For Molesting Girl. In August 1989
|
|
George P. Lee was charged with the sexual abuse of a girl,
|
|
12, his daughter's friend. He surrendered to police but was
|
|
released with orders not to have contact with anyone under
|
|
18. He appeared in court in September and asked for more
|
|
time before his preliminary hearing. He is accused of
|
|
fondling the girl, now 16, in her home and on trips. Lee
|
|
contends he is innocent and the charges are part of a big
|
|
plot by the church to excommunicate him, which they did in
|
|
1989 for polygamy and immorality and later apostasy, before
|
|
the current charges were brought forward. Lee was also
|
|
dismissed as high school principal in Tuba City for
|
|
insubordination. If convicted, Lee could be sentenced to
|
|
life in prison. Source: Sunstone, 12/93
|
|
|
|
VIRGINIA
|
|
Priest Initiates Sex With Teen. When she was 13 and a
|
|
student at St. Ann's Church, a woman, now 30, says Rev.
|
|
Stephen Roszel, 42, escalated their friendship into a sexual
|
|
relationship that lasted until she was through college. She
|
|
is suing Roszel and the Diocese of Arlington for more than
|
|
$12 million. Roszel vowed to wage a vigorous defense against
|
|
the allegations. He is now working at Blessed Sacrament,
|
|
where he is on personal leave, though his parishioners were
|
|
not told why. The woman said Roszel told her the
|
|
relationship would bring them closer to God and led prayers
|
|
with her after sex. He also wrote dozens of letters to her
|
|
telling her she was "soft, tender and prettyJ.J.J.Jand
|
|
sexy." The lawsuit alleges other priests knew of the affair
|
|
and did not report it. Source: Washington Post, 2/6/94
|
|
|
|
WASHINGTON
|
|
Minister Admits Sexual Misconduct. A Baptist minister and
|
|
social activist, Rev. Donovan Cook, has been under
|
|
investigation for sexual misconduct involving 3 women. It
|
|
has been recommended that his ordination be suspended. Cook
|
|
is popular for his work helping Central American refugees
|
|
and allowing homosexuals to be church members. One members
|
|
said, "If we can't get justice for the women, how are we
|
|
going to ask for justice in Central America?" Supporters of
|
|
Cook say the American Baptist Church's political conflicts
|
|
with Cook's work make their judgments "hardly impartial."
|
|
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1/31/94
|
|
|
|
WISCONSIN
|
|
Madison Priest Accused Of 1982 Assault. An Eau Claire man,
|
|
26, has brought suit against Rev. Michael Trainer, St.
|
|
Thomas Aquinas Church and the Diocese of Madison, claiming
|
|
Trainer sexually assaulted him numerous times in 1982. The
|
|
lawsuit also says the church knew of Trainer's pedophilia
|
|
before the assaults on the man and should have removed him.
|
|
It also says Trainer used "holy condemnation to prevent" the
|
|
man from reporting the assaults. Trainer is no longer a
|
|
priest in Madison. Source: Wisconsin State Journal, 2/18/94
|
|
|
|
Guilty Priest's Relatives Blame Victim. In his second
|
|
conviction of child molestation, Dennis A. Pecore, admitted
|
|
he was in denial about the harm he was causing his victim.
|
|
Pecore was sentenced to 12 years in prison for abusing a
|
|
boy, who was 8 when it began. He was on probation for his
|
|
first offense when he met the boy. The second boy's parents
|
|
knew of Pecore's previous offense but trusted him anyway.
|
|
Relatives of the priest sent letters to the court calling
|
|
the boy a liar. Source: Milwaukee Journal, 3/3/94
|
|
|
|
CANADA
|
|
Priest Charged With Assault. A 70-year-old Catholic priest
|
|
has been charged with indecent assault of girls, aged 5-11,
|
|
between 1957-1964. Eleven charges were laid, but 3 more
|
|
women have come forward with more allegations, totaling 15.
|
|
Rev. Eldon McGrath was suspended as parish priest in Sedley
|
|
in 1992. His trial will be heard by Queen's Bench judge
|
|
alone. He did not plea. The preliminary hearing will begin
|
|
April 25. Source: Star Phoenix, 1/13/94
|
|
|
|
Diocese Pays Victim And Stops Investigation. An
|
|
investigation into the sexual abuse by a prominent Catholic
|
|
priest of an altar boy, now 35, will be re-opened. The
|
|
victim received $32,000 from the Diocese of
|
|
Alexandria-Cornwall (Ontario) in a settlement which
|
|
contained a clause that prevented the man from further
|
|
pressing charges. The diocese denied, but later admitted
|
|
knowledge that the agreement would prevent the man from
|
|
pressing charges. The priest is now at a treatment center
|
|
where he was tested for pedophilia. The test indicated he is
|
|
not attracted to children. There will be an investigation as
|
|
to whether there was a conspiracy between the church and
|
|
police to effect the settlement. The police dropped the
|
|
investigation after the complainant withdrew and they did
|
|
not report the case to the Children's Aid Society until 10
|
|
months later. The former police chief was so incensed by the
|
|
church that he visited the Papal Nuncio archbishop in
|
|
October and complained. He also protested that the church
|
|
waited 10 months without removing the accused priest, which
|
|
finally occurred after the meeting with the former police
|
|
chief. Source: London Free Press, 2/94; Citizen, 1/12, 14,
|
|
15, 25/94
|
|
|
|
Priest Charged With Sexual Assault. Gerard Lambert, a St.
|
|
Paul University student, is charged with sexually molesting
|
|
6 boys, aged 9-13 in the early 1970s and early 1990s. The
|
|
assaults occurred while Lambert was a priest in
|
|
Notre-Dame-de-Fourvieres in Mont-Laurier and in Christ King
|
|
Church in Maniwaki. Source: Citizen, 1/12, 25, 26/94
|
|
|
|
Church Insurers Fear Claims. Canadian insurance companies
|
|
who serve churches are increasingly concerned about the
|
|
number of sexual abuse cases. Many companies are considering
|
|
riders in their policies that exclude coverage of criminal
|
|
behavior. What they would cover is negligence that leads to
|
|
or does not stop criminal abuse. Source: Globe & Mail,
|
|
1/24/94
|
|
|
|
St. Ann's Abuses Revealed. Though the St. Ann's school was
|
|
closed in 1972, its legacy lives on. Once a Cree Indian
|
|
Residential School run by the Oblates of Marie Immaculate
|
|
and Sisters of Charity, it is now an elementary school,
|
|
police station and apartment building. For nearly 70 years
|
|
Cree children attended the school to be indoctrinated into
|
|
Christianity and white culture. In August 1992 about 30
|
|
alumni attended a reunion, at which they discussed their
|
|
horror stories of physical and sexual abuse. Since then
|
|
police have interviewed over 450 people regarding abuse
|
|
between 1960-1972. The Cree community is trying to get the
|
|
church and government to address the issue. Source: Ottawa
|
|
Citizen, 1/24/94
|
|
|
|
St. Joseph's Saga Closes. For the sexual and physical abuse
|
|
of numerous boys over a decade, Andre Charbonneau, 62, was
|
|
sentenced to 6 years in prison, thus ending the final case
|
|
of the Brothers of the St. Joseph's Training School For
|
|
Boys. 20 former staff members were involved in criminal
|
|
cases. Nine received convictions. A compensation deal was
|
|
struck for 300 victims, paid for by Ontario, Ottawa and
|
|
Toronto archdioceses and the French Christian Brothers of
|
|
Ottawa. Many of the victims are still suffering
|
|
psychological damage from the abuse 30 years ago. Source:
|
|
Ottawa Citizen, 2/12/94
|
|
|
|
/*********************************************************/
|
|
Ain't they a busy bunch?
|
|
Freedom From Religion Foundation publishes Freetought Today
|
|
and a number of wonderful books on Freethought and
|
|
separation of church and state issues. Also, maybe the only
|
|
collections of atheistic songs on tape! They may be
|
|
contacted at: Freedom From Religion Foundation P.O. Box 750
|
|
Madison, WI 53701. Membership, including subscription to
|
|
Freethought Today is US$20. Tell 'em Lucifer/Phosphorous/
|
|
Prometheus sent ya.
|
|
============================================================
|
|
|| END OF ARTICLE ||
|
|
============================================================
|
|
===========================================================
|
|
|| END OF ISSUE ||
|
|
===========================================================
|
|
Once again: ISSN: 1198-4619 Lucifer's Echo.
|
|
Volume I, Number 1.5: May 1994. Supplement.
|
|
|
|
--
|
|
nullifidian, n. & a. (Person) having no religious faith or belief. [f.
|
|
med. L nullifidius f. L nullus "none" + fides "faith";] / If this is a
|
|
humanist topic then I am President of the Humanist Association of Ottawa.
|
|
Greg Erwin. ai815@FreeNet.Carleton.CA
|