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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1307530/
This is beyond coincidence...Catholic bishop facing child porn charges
A Roman Catholic bishop who oversaw an historic settlement with victims of past sexual abuse by priests in Nova Scotia has been charged with possessing and importing child pornography.
Bishop Raymond Lahey of the archdiocese of Antigonish was searched at the Ottawa airport as he re-entered Canada on Sept. 15. Officers found images “of concern” on his laptop, and seized it along with other media devices. He was released pending further investigation.
After a forensic examination revealed child pornography, Ottawa police charged Bishop Lahey, 69, Friday and issued a warrant for his arrest.
In a statement Saturday, Bishop Lahey said that “after much thought and careful consideration” he had submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict “for personal reasons.”
“…To so many of you I would want to say a personal word of farewell and thanks. However, I have already left the diocese to take some much-needed time for personal renewal. I simply ask for your prayers, as I assure you of my continued prayers for you all,” he wrote.
Archbishop of Halifax Anthony Mancini told CTV News that he spoke to the former bishop yesterday but doesn't know where he is and would encourage him to surrender “and allow the legal process to unfold.”
When Bishop Lahey sent his resignation letter to the Pope, Archbishop Mancini said the clergyman would have been specific about why he was stepping down.
“The Pope would have to know what the grave cause is,” he said. “And I have to assume that since he responded and accepted Bishop Lahey's resignation that the Pope knew the gravity of the matter.”
Rev. Paul Abbass, a spokesman for the Antigonish diocese, said there was “a ton of speculation” about why the bishop resigned, with many people inferring it was because of stress or his health.
“We know the reason now and now we have to deal with that,” he said, calling the charges “pretty devastating,” especially in light of the recent sex abuse settlement.
Father Abbass described the former bishop as a warm, respectful and “very pastoral” man who was “absolutely committed” to resolving the abuse allegations. But he said the nature of the charges he faces makes helping the victims heal even more difficult. “There's a pretty big disconnect here,” he said.
In August, the Antigonish diocese reached a $15-million class-action settlement with known and alleged former child victims of sexual abuse by its priests dating back to 1950. At the time, Bishop Lahey, who was bishop of Antigonish for six years and was not implicated in the allegations, apologized to the victims and noted they were entitled to protection from priests.
“Sexual abuse, indeed any abuse, is wrong. It is a crime and it is a serious sin in the eyes of God. I want to assure you that for some time our diocese, like others throughout Canada, have been taking steps to protect children and youth,” Bishop Lahey told a news conference.
Last year, the Antigonish diocese and the Roman Catholic Church were named in the class-action lawsuit, which alleged they kept the assaults secret and failed to warn or protect children.
John McKiggan, the lawyer who initiated the suit, said yesterday that he was “very surprised” by the news.
In August, Mr. McKiggan said the settlement was “unprecedented in Canada,” noting that churches typically fight such claims until they declare bankruptcy or the alleged victims give up.
Originally from Newfoundland, the former bishop once served as a professor of theology at Memorial University in St. John's and was bishop of the province's Diocese of St. George's for 17 years.
"The issue is there are still many people out there that use religion as a crutch for bigotry and hate. Like Ben."
Ben Kenobi: "That means I'm doing something right. "
Awful.
I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891
I'm more curious what a guy has to do to get customs to search your laptop?
I've crossed the border with 1 laptop -- and frequently 2 -- and never had a problem.
Do the security people just sniff out douches?
"The issue is there are still many people out there that use religion as a crutch for bigotry and hate. Like Ben."
Ben Kenobi: "That means I'm doing something right. "
At this point, being a priest/bishop/cardinal/pope is probably sufficient reason for a guard to search your laptop. (Deacons can still fly under the radar as long as they don't have pedophile beards.)
Pedophile beards?
I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891
But expected.Originally Posted by DanS
"Our scientific power has out run out spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men." - Martin Luther King Jr.
"A cynical, mercenary, demagogic press will produce in time a people as base as itself." - Joseph Pulitzer
So, why does the Catholic church have this problem?
My theory is it attracts a lot of people who have guilty consciences. A lot of people buy into this nonsense that you can basically do anything and as long as you repent/confess before you die it's all negated.
"The issue is there are still many people out there that use religion as a crutch for bigotry and hate. Like Ben."
Ben Kenobi: "That means I'm doing something right. "
Maybe it has something to do with that vow of chastity thing.
Just spitballin' here.
"My nation is the world, and my religion is to do good." --Thomas Paine
"The subject of onanism is inexhaustable." --Sigmund Freud
Well it is a religion - what do you expect?
"History is a lie that has been honed like a weapon by people who have suppressed the truth. Centuries from now, your own history will also be suppressed."
I wouldn't expect that to increase the number of pedophiles in the Church. "Welp, can't have sex, better rape some kids."
Wouldn't the be having illicit affairs with female staff and parishioners then? Vows of Chastity don't turn people into kiddie diddlers.
I make no bones about my moral support for [terrorist] organizations. - chegitz guevara
For those who aspire to live in a high cost, high tax, big government place, our nation and the world offers plenty of options. Vermont, Canada and Venezuela all offer you the opportunity to live in the socialist, big government paradise you long for. –Senator Rubio
Who says they aren't having affairs? That's something that probably wouldn't come to light, as it isn't criminal.
As to kiddie diddlers, I don't think the vow of chastity turns normal folks into kiddie diddlers; I think maybe the vow of chastity attracts people predisposed to kiddie diddling.
"My nation is the world, and my religion is to do good." --Thomas Paine
"The subject of onanism is inexhaustable." --Sigmund Freud
More disturbing is that this isn't at all a new phenomenon. The wider Catholic community must have, in the past, to some degree suspected and winked at this.
The number of cousins, brothers, uncles, husbands,etc over the decades (centuries??) must have been huge.
Maybe in the past it was just like 'that's just what priests do?' or something?
Of course there also wasn't the degree of 'media' that there is today.
"Wait a minute..this isn''t FAUX dive, it's just a DIVE!"
"...Mangy dog staggering about, looking vainly for a place to die."
"sauna stories? There are no 'sauna stories'.. I mean.. sauna is sauna. You do by the laws of sauna." -P.
In what way?
I make no bones about my moral support for [terrorist] organizations. - chegitz guevara
For those who aspire to live in a high cost, high tax, big government place, our nation and the world offers plenty of options. Vermont, Canada and Venezuela all offer you the opportunity to live in the socialist, big government paradise you long for. –Senator Rubio
I think the wider society has changed pretty drastically with respect to attitudes on this, but RC church policies have changed more slowly. Also, you had a lot of people in the priesthood who had no business being priests (and religious sisters and brothers, for that matter) -- they didn't take their vows seriously enough. This has changed for the better rather quickly lately in my experience, at least here in the States.
You never know in these individual instances. Maybe Lahey thought that with his impulses being as they were, it was better to go the kiddy porn route than the kiddy-diddling route. A lesser evil.
Last edited by DanS; October 1, 2009 at 12:25.
I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891
They don't want to **** women so they think the vows would be grand. They just never considered beforehand what it is that they do like to ****, then they get surrounded by all the hot tail and just can't help themselves.
I think it's good that the media helps us expose these folks.Of course there also wasn't the degree of 'media' that there is today.
I think it's bad that the media shelters those that they like (ie Roman Polanski). I don't believe this is any more a problem for the Catholic church than other occupations such as teachers. Just, it isn't news when it's anyone other than the Catholic church.
WRT to the vow of celibacy, people are people. It's not going to stop chronic offenders from acting, and changing it isn't doing to stop chronic offenders from doing the same.
Scouse Git (2) LaFayette Adam Smith and Solomwi you will be missed
"Learning carries within itself certain dangers because out of necessity one has to learn from one's enemies." - Trotsky.
"I don't consider any of them authoritative" - Kidicious on Scripture.
Please never refer to small boys as "hot tail" again Space.
Sure it is. Catholic priests have made vows that they are asexual and have it as one of their prime ways of life, so when they fail, it's far worse than if a ordinary citizen fail.
Kiddy fiddlers are kiddy fiddlers. I don't care whether they are preists or teachers or whatever.Sure it is. Catholic priests have made vows that they are asexual and have it as one of their prime ways of life, so when they fail, it's far worse than if a ordinary citizen fail.
Scouse Git (2) LaFayette Adam Smith and Solomwi you will be missed
"Learning carries within itself certain dangers because out of necessity one has to learn from one's enemies." - Trotsky.
"I don't consider any of them authoritative" - Kidicious on Scripture.
Sure they are, though, priests are supposed not to have such urges. If they have, then it would certainly be a good reason to strip them off their special rights.
They need to change the name of the diocese. With a name like Antigonish they're just asking for trouble.
"I say shoot'em all and let God sort it out in the end!
Antigonish is the name of a town.
"The issue is there are still many people out there that use religion as a crutch for bigotry and hate. Like Ben."
Ben Kenobi: "That means I'm doing something right. "
"The name Antigonish is of Mi'kmaq origin and is believed to refer to "The place where tree branches are torn off by bears gathering beech nuts"."
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." - Clarence Darrow
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." - Mark Twain
I'm guessing that Doc is referring to Antigone.
I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891
How is it OK for customs officers to search for documents on someone's laptop?
They should be allowed to investigate whether someone is carrying a bomb,
not whether images on their disc conform to laws.
You must be Catholic, VetLegion, if that's what you think the problem is with this thread.
"The issue is there are still many people out there that use religion as a crutch for bigotry and hate. Like Ben."
Ben Kenobi: "That means I'm doing something right. "
He was probably trying to show it to the kids next to him in line.
"The French caused the war [Persian Gulf war, 1991]" - Ned
"you people who bash Bush have no appreciation for one of the great presidents in our history." - Ned
"I wish I had gay sex in the boy scouts" - Dissident
If a guy looks like, say, a Catholic Priest, they might get suspicious.
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