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To the Anonymous, Mater Dei-Loving Faxing Coward
Posted by Gustavo Arellano in Ex Cathedra
February 18, 2008 11:13 AM
Permalink | Comments (77)
**UPDATE: This is now the most-commented post in Navel Gazing history. Keep up the wackiness, readers!
Over the years I've covered the Catholic Diocese of Orange sex-abuse scandal, I've found few people braver than Joelle Casteix. She's one of Orange County's most prominent sex-abuse survivors (a choir director repeatedly raped Casteix while she was a student at Mater Dei High during the 1980s) and frequently stands outside churches to demand clueless Catholics hear the voices of the Orange diocese's molestation victims. For her work, Casteix has endured taunts, slurs, screams and even the occasional shove--and on Navel Gazing, anonymous cowards leave snide remarks.
Now, Casteix must deal with anonymous faxes to me.
Late last Friday, someone sent the Weekly a fax of an op-ed piece Casteix wrote as a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara in the early 1990s regarding the abortion she underwent due to the abuse. "I assume you have never seen this article," a cover letter stated, and the sender went on to rail about Casteix's supposed hypocrisies. "Joelle has made a career out of being a victim of 'rape' and professes to want to protect other children from the administrator who failed to protect her almost 20 years ago," the anonymous faxer wrote. The person then suggested I ask Casteix why she never brought criminal charges against her molester, why she allows Santa Margarita High Assistant Principal of Admission Lucretia Dominguez to continue working since the writer claimed Dominguez knew about Casteix's abuse yet did nothing about it, and some other crap.
So I called Casteix and asked her those questions. "I've been protesting against Lu for years!" she said in her ever-chipper tone. Same thing with her abuser. The sending of her long-ago UCSB Daily Nexus piece makes her think a Mater Dei apologist sent the anonymous fax: "The only people with knowledge of that article who would care enough to send it out are [Orange] diocesan officials, people who have seen my case files, or people who hate me for my activism."
We'll wager on the latter--also included in the cover sheet was this cryptic remark:
I have always felt [Joelle] deliberately waited for the criminal statute of limitations to expire before going after the church so the testimony of other witnesses would not interfere with her public version of events.
Hey, anonymous coward: you're obviously reading this blog, as the subject header for your cover sheet was "Barkley Blog and Joelle Casteix." So, tell us: who are you? Why are you so adamant about attacking Casteix that you resorted to sending me a fax that not only didn't state where it was coming from, but took enough care so that our fax machine couldn't register your fax number? And what's your point in sending me the Daily Nexus article, of which I already had a copy (it's called reporting, pendejo)? The article only proves Casteix was raped by a teacher--nothing more, nothing less. Cretin.
February 18, 2008 13:24
Look, there are a lot of people with a different side of the story on these abuse cases who were not asked to tell them because there was no criminal trial.
Much like SNAP speaks out against those priests who have tried to sue their accusers for defamation because it "frightens other victims into hiding," your type of reporting and attacks have prevented many others from coming out publicly to tell the other side of the story.
These are people with lives outside of these abuse issues - who wanted to leave everything about that time behind, who don't have time to fly across the country speaking about the evils of the Catholic church, who aren't being paid to report on these issues, who aren't being paid to sue, who aren't making a dime and will never make a dime for having their lives ruined for coming out with information against the stories of a "victim."
These people also feel helpless - watching the story be told the way it is. They want to say something, but can't because their livelihoods are also at risk. If an alleged abuser who is still legally innocent can lose multiple jobs because of the work of SNAP following them around the country, what is to say that they won't get to work on someone who has more to add that won't play well into the story of the victim?
You are at the pinnacle of a modern day witch hunt Gustavo - where if you're not 100% with the victims, you must be either an abuser or a supporter of child abuse. Don't tell me there has ever been room for a gray area in your reporting.
Apparently questions about the victims don't need answering. I read the comments on your other blog - why doesn't anyone publicly post the answer to some of the more legitimate questions particularly the reasoning behind why these victims settled without a criminal trial? Why don't you post the article and the fax you received? I would sure love to see it - you may have already seen it, but I haven't read the article.
February 18, 2008 13:25
This Santa Barbara article is not news. In fact it was exhibit A in Joelle's case against the diocese and mater dei. It is a smoking gun - against Mater Dei and the Diocese. Our firm represented Joelle and the facts are clear. Mater dei and specificaly Lou Dominguez were well aware that Hodgeman (Joelle's perp.) had sexually molested her more than a year before he was fired. Joelle has testified on more than one occasion that she told Dominguez about being abuse abused and she did nothing. MDHS never reported Hodgeman to the police, nor did the Diocese. In fact MDHS aqctively concealed the reason Hodgman left MDHS as did the diocese. Joelle has also testified in 2002 when speaking Diocese General Counsel Maria Schinderle about Hodgman's conduct her response in part was "well you were 15 honey".
The facts are clear Hodgman lured 15 year old Joelle to his apartment telling her that other kids were going to be there to help him move and then he raped her. He knew that her mother was actively alcoholic and that she was clinically depressed, had attempted suicide 60 days earlier and had been in an inpatient facility after her suicide attempt. Knowing all of these facts he assaulted her and then coerced her through a mixture of manipulation and threats not to tell. Finally he left her pregnant with a venereal disease at age 17. (It's amazing, given the Diocese of Orange's record, they didn't immediately ordain him to the priesthood.) She wrote the Santa Barbara piece as the result of the raging debate on the right for women to chose to terminate their pregnancy because of rape.
Make no mistake about it - The Diocese of Orange hirearchy and MDHS administratotrs hate Joelle. They hate her for one reason. She has the guts to tell the truth and attach her name to it. I am absolutely sure this ananymous writer is yet another Diocese lackey who is trying to stick the knife in her back and twist. (I wouldn't be surprised if they give themselves the screen name of a deceased Civil War general like other diocese tools have done in the past) In addition to trying to silence Joelle the Diocese is trying to send a message. Speak out against us and we'll come after you with everything we have. They've done it to me and lawyers in my firm as well. One has to wonder whether the Holy Father's military experience in the Wermacht and Hitler youth is being adopted to deal with victims of sexual abuse.
Meanwhile, Joelle's perp Thomas Hodgman continues to teach minors in Ohio. Joelle has made at least three trips there to try and get him fired. She has held press confrences, written letters to the school where he works. No action. What has the Diocese done you ask? Not a fucking thing. What a surprise.
John C. Manly
Manly & Stewart
MDHS 82'
February 18, 2008 13:34
Gustavo: Again, thank you for the courage to report another attempt by Diocesan officials to intimidate, discredit and defame, anyone who exposes violations of the law, failures to protect children and illegal business/employment practices within the Diocese of Orange.
This mysterious fax is similar to what happened to my husband in 2006, when someone from the Diocese of Orange sent a defaming email to a public school district who had just hired a former employee from Santa Margarita Catholic HS employee. The email was signed by my husband without his knowledge and the school district revoked the former Santa Margarita Catholic HS employee's job offer, after receiving the email sent under my husband's name.
Supposedly, no one could ever determine or didn't want to determine where the email came from so my husband took the heat for the email, just in time for his civil trial before Judge Dennis Choate in September 2006. During the trial, ongoing obstructions of justice, legal conflicts of interest, denials of due process and perjury continued. Requests for perjury and fraudulent email activity investigations were made to the OC District Attorney but an investigation was refused by the DA because we could not identify a specific crime that was committed. Don't you just love it? Damned if you request corrective action and damned if you don't. This type of defamation and wrongdoing will continue as long as Bishop Brown plays the ostrich and allows his attorneys and school administrators to violate one law after another.
Tragically, the OC District Attorney, the California Attorney General and the State Bar of California have followed Bishop Brown's ostrich approach to correcting legal conflicts of interest, obstructions of justice and denials of due process continuing within the Diocese of Orange. As long as those responsible for protecting children continue to ignore violations of the law committed by political buddies, the protections of children and employees are at serious risk.
As a non-attorney, I recommend you make a report to the OC District Attorney, California Attorney General and State Bar of California about this anonymous fax, especially if it is defaming to Joelle's public participation in matters of interest and safety. Federal anti-SLAPP statutes prohibit this type of practice and the OC Weekly is the only opportunity for the public to participate in matters of interest and safety via blogging and comment opportunities. The Diocese is hoping the OC Weekly's attorneys are intimidated enough to request the OC Weekly stop supporting the protections of children and the public's right to participate in matters of interest and safety.
At some point, in my opinion, someone has to eventually pay attention to criminal activity within the Diocese of Orange and its legal network of corrupt advisors, especially when it relates to discouraging public participation in matters of interest and safety. Gustavo, we will pray for your safety and the safety of OC Weekly journalists still upholding freedoms of speech, press and opinion--the road can get very bumpy at times. God bless you.
Debby Bodkin, Founder
www.catholics4justice.com
February 18, 2008 13:52
ScaredOfGustavoAndSnap aka Annoyed: "Modern day witch hunt"--gimme a break. There are two stories--either the molestations happened or they didn't. If it happened, there is no sympathy for the abuser and his "side"--none. End of story. Casteix's abuser admitted to having sex with her, which is against California law and for which Mater Dei ultimately fired him. Now, pray tell, what's your side of the story. Better yet, can you please justify statutory rape for the rest of us?
February 18, 2008 14:08
Witch hunt???? Please oh please, how much are you getting paid to post this opinion? Hodgman admitted, resigned and signed a confession that he had sex with two minor students at Mater Dei HS. Jeffrey Andrade admitted, resigned and signed a confession that he had sex with a minor student at Mater Dei High School.
The only difference between Hodgman and Andrade is Hodgman left the State of California and is allowed to continue his employment as a teacher in Ohio, with the blessing of the Diocese of Orange; and, Andrade was paid $100,000 to dismiss his defamation lawsuit against the Diocese of Orange in 2005, with the blessling of the Diocese of Orange, and now has access to minor children in a non-teacher capacity.
The Diocese of Orange has destroyed children, families and the careers of employees who seek justice in a court of law. If this is a witch hunt against the Diocese of Orange, then what exactly does the Diocese of Orange call the hell, ridicule, defamation and isolation that survivors of clergy sex abuse, their families, attorneys and Whistleblower employees are forced to endure, without the assistance of law enforcement or government corrective action.
To Bishop Brown.... you obviously have learned absolutely nothing from the clergy sex abuse crisis that erupted in 2002. What will it take for you to take charge of the corruption and criminal activity that continues under your supervision?
Debby Bodkin, Founder
www.catholics4justice.com
February 18, 2008 14:10
The year was 2003. The 6th circuit supreme court ruled that they were not going to open the floodgates regarding these cases. They let Lenihan go free as well as releasing already jailed offenders. The message sent to victims was loud and clear "you don't count and we don't care. Now carry on with your life if you can now that you know where you stand"
Make no mistake, the victims of abuse are picked by their abusers not by random fate, but because of factors that made them vulnerable in the first place. Family boundry issues, alchohol abuse, neglect and developmental disorders.. For one reason or another they were preyed upon and have difficulty defending and protecting themselves. The effort to finally stand up and say "this happened to me" is hard, let alone finding out that its not worth pursuing by the court system is devistating. After the 2003 ruling, who would want to subject themselves to that?
February 18, 2008 14:15
I'm curious -- if we accept the cowardly faxer's assertion that Joelle Casteix 'waited' until the Statute of Limitations expired to come forward, how does that negate the 3 pages of signed confessions in Hodgman's file at his employers, signed within the statute of limitations in 1989?????
Joelle's case is about far more than a man who rapes a child. Those stories, sadly, are a dime a dozen.
Isn't this story about cover-up at a school that had become a repository for child predators? Isn't this about the school's failure to warn? Isn't this case about the Diocese of Orange County's failure to warn and protect?
The Diocese of Orange and it's church leaders essentially drove the get-away car for Hodgman which enabled him to spring board onto an unsuspecting community in Adrian Michigan. The technical term researchers use is 'passing the trash.'
I applaud Joelle Casteix for having uncommon courage, especially in the face of such adversity. And, it's clear the cowardly faxer does to -- prove it? The faxer can't show their face and put their name behind their accusations, because deep within, places they probably seldom go, they know -- as do most -- that Joelle Casteix, is telling the truth. So, the boo-bird hides behind his/her anonymity.
Anyone notice in 18 years, the only version of this story that changed was Hodgman's and the diocese?
Joelle Castiex is every child predator's worst nightmare because as long as she has blood coursing thru her veins, she's going to be an adult voice protecting kids --- the same protective voice she could have used as a child when church officials were instead, scurrying around trying to figure out how to cover for a child predator.
February 18, 2008 14:38
Tragically, Lu Dominguez, a school administrator at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, and Maria Rullo Schinderle, the Diocese of Orange General Counsel, both participated in MULTIPLE failures to warn parents, students and families about sexual predator employees under their supervision.
In fact, Lu Dominguez and Maria Schinderle, also participated in the cover up and failures to report the felony gun possession of the principal's son on the Santa Margarita Catholic HS campus in 2001 - 2002. Both Lu Dominguez and Maria Schinderle may have also failed to notify an OCSC Judge and the DA's office that the principal's son also pulled the gun on a car next to his, while two Santa Margarita Catholic HS students were in the car, before the case came up for trial in March 2002. One will never know because the Diocese orchestrated a deal with the DA and Judge Robert Fitzgerald, to keep the felony gun possession file of the principal's son sealed from the public. The principal's son was not a minor at the time of the felony gun possession -- so what gives?
Ms. Dominguez and Ms. Schinderle committed acts of perjury during a civil trial in September 2006, which I personally witnessed firsthand. Yet, both ladies are GAINFULLY employed by the Diocese of Orange and Bishop Tod Brown continues to allow them to place the civil rights of children and employees at serious risk, without corrective action.
If you truly believe your children are safe when they attend Catholic schools supervised by the Diocese of Orange, then you are in denial! It is apparent that protecting the Diocese from scandals and lawsuits is the only PRIORITY within the business and employment practices of the Diocese of Orange -- the protections of children and winning CIF titles continues to be number one on the priority list. Again, the only reason children are SAFER in Orange County is because of the public outcry of Joelle and many other survivors of sex crimes, obstructions of justice, legal conflicts of interest and failures to report, with the blessing of the Diocese of Orange and OC law enforcement.
Debby Bodkin, Founder
www.catholics4justice.com
February 18, 2008 14:44
"either the molestations happened or they didn't. If it happened, there is no sympathy for the abuser and his "side"--none." I don't think anyone is debating if anything did or did not happen - but there's a difference between molestation and statutory rape - again, I'm no lawyer but I think the two carry very different weights and different criminal punishments. One includes a consenting minor and a consenting adult - still wrong - no argument there... and this is what these teachers may have admitted to. No Mater Dei teacher admitted to molestation. My debate lies with treating these non-guilty-in-the-eyes-of-the-law-folks as predators when that may not be the case. 3 settlements come to mind with no additional victims coming forward, but public statements have repeatedly called these people predators.
Besides, I didn't mention anything about Joelle's case, you assumed I was talking about that. Whatever my questions never legitimately get answered here, so who cares anyway.
February 18, 2008 14:50
"behind the orange curtain" a slogan used with pride. To the rest of the country, it depicts a small inept wizard with lots of buttons and levers trying to create a false utopia. now the curtian has been pulled back to expose the ugly truth, and the only thing you have left to do is attack the truth seekers. Perhaps you should just fess up to the fact that your church and your local goverment done really care about the safety or rights of your youth. To point your fingers back at them as the cause of the problem is deplorable. Watch out for flying monkeys. Being proud of being "behind a curtain" indicates you're hiding something and you are fighting so hard to keep that curtain closed.
February 18, 2008 14:57
You said there was another side to the story different from that of the victim, and that my reporting frightens such people away from doing it. So what is this other side you speak of? I asked you this already, yet you refuse to share it, so spare me your whines about unanswered questions on my behalf. Here: to make you feel better, I'll answer the two above you posed:
*why doesn't anyone publicly post the answer to some of the more legitimate questions particularly the reasoning behind why these victims settled without a criminal trial?
I'm not a victim, so I can't answer for them. Joelle Casteix and other victims have answered that question many, many times--go find their answers. On my part, the bigger story isn't the settlements or even the actual crime committed, but the cover-up and the spin.
Why don't you post the article and the fax you received?
Because the Weekly's scanner sucks.
Okay, big boy: your turn!
February 18, 2008 15:00
To AfraidAnon.... did you know that Hodgman and Andrade both DENIED any type of sexual misconduct until the victims filed civil lawsuits? Why were the allegations denied and then admitted? And, why did the Diocese of Orange know about the allegations and refused to allow the allegations to be investigated by a law enforcement agency?
Either way you evaluate the actions of the Diocese, failing to report "allegations" of sexual misconduct by an employee of a religious institution, is a crime. Covering up the crime years after it took place is another crime. Continuing to employ employees for life that participated in failures to report and warn parents and students, is another crime.
This PATTERN OF ABUSE will continue forever if Bishop Brown does not remove the employees responsible for failing to warn and report sexual misconduct allegations.
Debby Bodkin, Founder
www.catholics4justice.com
February 18, 2008 15:14
"The article only proves Casteix was raped by a teacher--nothing more, nothing less."
Raped? thats totally the wrong terminology. Maybe initially but again...200 times? theres no such thing as someone being raped by the same person 200 times.
February 18, 2008 15:19
Dear AfraidAnon, There have been numerous MDHS teachers who admitted abuse. Most notably Thomas Hodgman. He admitted it to MDHS, signed a confession. The Diocese and MDHS hid the confession, denied its existance and acted like Hodgman was innocent until it was mandatorily produced in the litigation of 2004. Bottom line you don't know what your talking about. Maybe you should go blog on Red County they like your type over there.
John Manly
February 18, 2008 15:22
When I first stood in front of my former Catholic High school, Calvert Hall College, Towson Maryland, parents of students that were now attending Calvert Hall would yell out to me; "Get over it! " Undeterred I continued to return and tell my story to anyone who would listen, {The local TV, radio, and newspapers, covered me 23 times in five years. The man who became principal there was my economics teacher, a man named Lou Heidrick. Heidrick claimed to "know everything that went on in the school" at my ten year reunion. Heidrick went on to say: That is why they made me principal. Well, I just filed that one for a later date. Heidrick actually walked in on me and my perp, Brother Xavier Langan as Langan was raping me. I since have found a man who is twenty years older than I am who also went to Calvert Hall, Francis X. Bacon, who also was molested by Brother Xavier Langan. In Maryland if a victim doesn't report their molestation by their 25th birthday, they don't get their day in civil court. For the past six years I have sponsored legislation in Annapolis that would change this, and of course my only opposition is the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Soon [April 20th} our bill will go before the legislature} and I am sure we will have the same oponant Calvert Hall was a 'dumping ground" for sexual predators. in the sixties in Maryland if you got caught raping a child, you got a "ticket" and went before an Irish Magistrate. No chance of justice there huh? Kurt Gladsky, Founder: Christian Brothers Sexual Abuse Survivors Network. gladsky@aol.com Towson Maryland
February 18, 2008 15:23
I really didn't want to get sucked into this, but here I go. I'm also the victim of a Mater Dei choir director. Oh no, not Joelle's perp. The next one. That's how ubiquitous this thing is. Out with one perp and in with another. My perp admitted the abuse as well, but behind closed doors to an administration that barely blinked when he did.
This is for ScaredOfGustavoAndSNAP--though you may be, as John thinks, a Diocesan lackey, I've got another theory. You sound like one of Joelle's high school friends. We victims all know people like you. People who were actually there and are still defending the perps 10 or 20 years later. If that's your situation, and to those classmates of mine who may be secretly reading these blogs, YOU ARE VICTIMS OF THIS TOO. Your youth and innocence were so victimized by these "caring" adults that you are still unable to see the truth about them, even after all these years. After all, it's easier to lash out at us, your peers, than to face the notion that everything you knew and loved wasn't as you thought. But we all need to face that. And it doesn't mean throwing away your education or your good memories. It means realizing that your teen-aged friend who you knew had a crush on a teacher was not responsible for that adult's horrific actions. Andrade, Hodgman, Stukenholtz and all the others took advantage of the young people in their care and have done irreparable harm to the victims and, as we can see by these arguments, the community at large. The media isn't responsible for these battles--they result from the clash of Mater Dei idealism and the Mater Dei reality which is a beautiful facade with real dangers and suffering buried far beneath.
As far the crippling zing (don't think we all missed it) that you have a life outside this and don't have time to speak about the issues, we victims have families too, and jobs, and cares, and lives to lead, made all the much more difficult by the mental, emotional, and physical scars of the abuse. And as for your question about why the victims settle...that's no one's business but our own. Civil suits are about bringing the accused to light--we've done that and much of the public (you excluded) has responded with concern and vigilance. Civil suits are about personal healing--you cannot judge when that is done for me or for any other victim. Civil suits, I have to say, are also about money, about the thousands and thousands of dollars victims spend in therapy and medication over the course of their lives.
If you are a Mater Dei grad and have seen "another side" to Joelle's or any other victim's abuse, please remember that there can be no right side to what the abusers did. The teen-aged, manipulated, and very naive belief that there may be fault with the victim is what kept victims like Joelle and me quiet for so long. We at least know now that there is no shame in being taken advantage of by a man you trust who is more than twice your age. The shame is with them and all who zealously or indifferently cover their tracks.
February 18, 2008 15:34
Anonymous2:
So at what point did it stop becoming rape, do you think? Number 10? Number 199? Or would you jump right to the second time? At what point did it segue from rape to just "statutory" rape?
More importantly, why in the name of butt-humping Christ would it even MATTER? A rape is a rape is a rape.
It's like the man said: "I didn't know you could get drunk off one beer! ...I wonder which one it was?"
February 18, 2008 15:56
Please, keep in mind these were people in a position of authority. And also keep in mind the strict protocols within the confines of a catholic school setting. This isn't public school where kids more freely speak up, act out and cause a rebelious scene. a student overly eager to accomodate the perverse needs of an authority figure is not giving their underage content. They are screaming for help even if they have to scream over 200 times. Its the job of those in authority to identify and protect, not identify and take advantage of.
February 18, 2008 16:00
Anyone who is afraid to put their name to their statements, translates into statements not worthy of discussion. The Catholic Church is a cult, with followers who anonymously attack anyone who threatens the organization they belong to, no different than Gang Members of modern day America. As an outspoken critic of the San Diego Diocese, and abuse survivor, I believe this smoke and mirrors approach by using anonymity, is no different that used by any diocese in America when faced with the crimes they allowed to be perpetrated upon innocent children, and the lifetime residual affects this form of abuse has on our lives. If there were anyway to change things, I'd wish these critics to suffer as we did as children, and see how quick they would be to criticize anyones attempt to bring the Diocese to justice, and reveal just how truly evil the Catholic Church Hierarchy is, and continues to be, as represented by it's anon followers, and spineless Bishops, Cardinals, and Soap on a rope Pope.
February 18, 2008 16:01
It is very easy to make an effort to understand sexual misconduct committed against minor children.
Close your eyes and imagine you are a Mom or Dad, who has a student at a Catholic school. The child comes to you one day and says, "something terrible happened, but I am afraid to tell you because it will upset you or make you angry."
Would you believe your child or would you tell your child he/she is the one responsible for the sexual misconduct of a trusted adult, an employee of a religious institution?
Would you blame yourself as a parent for doing something wrong?
Would you tell your child to stay quiet because no one would believe them... afterall, everyone LOVES Father Joe, and you don't want to embarass the family?
Would you continue to call persons speaking publicly about sexual misconduct in a Catholic school or church liars or looking for a payoff?
Suddenly, think about the helplessness you would feel if you knew the Catholic school you trusted your children to, in reality, was covering up and denying sexual misconduct committed against minor children for years, and one of your children was also victimized but has never told you. Maybe all of us should be asking our children some serious questions.
February 18, 2008 16:07
Alex Brant-Zawadzki:
My point is..something should have been done asap on the victims part. If you cant get someone to help...get someone else.
February 18, 2008 16:27
To Anonymous2: What happens when you make reports about child endangerment crimes to OC law enforcement agencies for almost 4 years, the OC District Attorney and OC Sheriff, and not once has an official investigated the alleged crimes?
You do not see the picture here.... the Diocese of Orange is politically connected by the most wealthy and politically-influential individuals in the county and world. No one touches a wealthy political contributor, even the OC District Attorney and OC Sheriff. Take off the blinders.... there is no help in this County for any victim of any crime, if you are not a member of the OC Republican GOP!!!!!
February 18, 2008 16:30
Anonymous2, what would you call what happened to Elizabeth Smart, a love affair? Your views on the crimality of sex with minors might find acceptance at your local parish or at Marywood but they ignore California law, Federal Law and yes even cannon law. Person's in positions of control over youth are in a uniquely situated to misuse that power to access children and adolescents sexually. This does tremedous psychological damage and effectively left untreated is emotional murder. Every right thinking person in our society, Republican, Democrat or Green gets that. Why don't you? Have you ever spent time with Fr. Franklin Buckman? Mmmmm.
John Manly
February 18, 2008 16:32
indeed, they should have gone to Monsignor Urell straight away. And if that didn't work they should have gone to Monsignor Baird. And then 20 years later get sued for saying you tried.
February 18, 2008 16:42
Anonymous2:
I could not more strongly (respectfully) disagree. Certainly cultures of abuse cannot exist when those pesky victims speak out; however, it cannot possibly follow that victims bear the responsibility of not being victimized.
Criminal law is not a list of all the stuff you shouldn't LET OTHER PEOPLE DO. It's all the stuff you're not supposed to do. Like repeatedly rape your students. Over and over again. Just because you can.
Not you personally. Them.
February 18, 2008 16:45
Debby Bodkin:
Welcome to America. Where freedom isn't free and the rich rule us even though we live in a so called democracy.
john manly:
I did not say sex with minors was ok. Im just saying the minor should've reported it like asap and not blame it all on "fear, shame, etc." Elizabeth Smart was a different situation...she was kidnapped. And did the prisoners in Santa Ana buttrape you? I sure hope they did because you obviously are putting words in my mouth.
February 18, 2008 17:04
Anonymous: We finally agree... "freedom isn't free and the rich rule." But, this known rule should NEVER apply to minor children who cannot protect themselves and do not have the wealth do do so. Children deserve to be safe from any type of danger or abuse. Any institution who BUYS justice with political influence and walth, covers up crimes, obstructs justice, denies due process daily, commits perjury and publicly blames minor children abused while under their trusted care, deserves to be dismantled from operating as a tax exempt religious institution in the United States.
Do you think the Diocese of Orange will demand that its employees protect minor children once their federal tax exempt status is withdrawn? We can only pray for such luck!
February 18, 2008 17:14
Anon: 16:32: And let's not forget the victim who did go to Urell with his molestation, yet the only action to emerge from that was Urell losing it.
February 18, 2008 17:22
Btw Debby: i was the anonymous you are addressing. I just forgot to put the '2.'
I applaud your activism against the corruption in Orange County.
But to some of the victims out there. I really want to know if you are true victims or if you're just a bunch of fakes.
America is just full of crap these days. You have the rich trying to take control of everything and those who try to take advantage of the whole system by telling white lies. What happened to America?
February 18, 2008 18:27
"The prisoners in Santa Ana?" "Butt rape?" Dude, you have issues.
Child and adolescent victims rarely if ever speak of there abuse until well into adulthood. No one tells because they fear precisely the reaction you are giving. Have you ever considered applying for a job at Mater Dei?
February 18, 2008 18:29
Gustavo, I seriously doubt Monsignor John would ever "lose it" regarding a victim. He is a loving pastor and a really nice guy. I just hope he is Ok and not too damaged from all these fake accusations. Our church loves and misses him dearly. Leave him out of this, you will ruin his homecoming. This is about the whiney victims that we don't really care about anyway. Why can't they just move away with all that church money they stole with their lies.
February 18, 2008 19:03
Anonymous2; I'll get to you in a minute.
First, to Ms. Joelle Casteix, you are a very brave woman. Mr. John Manly, my hats off to you and thank God we have attorneys like you. God bless the both of you.
I'm the oldest of eight and myself, two of my brothers, and three of my sisters were abused by Fr. Daniel Babis when we were kids between the ages of 5yrs old up to eleven yrs old. Pope Benny and his sidekick Bertone don't give a damn about "survivors" of abuse.
And thanks to all the nice folks here who wrote to support Joelle.
Now to Anonymous2: you're a sick, naive, idiot.
From Brooklyn with Love,
Dick Regan
February 18, 2008 19:31
Norberter: By "losing it," I mean Urell went loco over his guilt--he admitted as much in his depo for the Andrade case. Now that I reread your comment, you're either a sockpuppet or a vile, soulless twerp. Care to clarify?
February 18, 2008 19:34
To Anonymous2... due process of the law and ethical attorneys will allow for justice to those deserving justice. The Diocese of Orange had a chance to come clean and made a choice to legally badger victims of their employees, while the Diocesan attorneys hid proof that there were written confessions. The Diocese has lost all credibility morally, legally and ethically.
I know from personal experience what Diocesan attorneys and supervisory employees will do to look good in the eyes of the public and they do not care who they hurt, destroy or defame. If you would ever like to meet for coffee one evening or you would like me to send you written documentation of one conspiracy after another, I can show you hundreds of examples of Diocesan attorneys and supervisory employees who have committed perjury, obstructed justice, abused the judicial system and remain free to place more children at risk.
February 18, 2008 20:21
To St. Norberter... as I stated on the other blog, I am sorry that the parishoners at St. Norbert's have lost Mon. Urell during his recovery in Canada.
When John Lenihan's sex abuse crimes were made public, my family and I were devastated. Lenihan was the pastor of our Catholic school and church in Dana Point. Everyone liked him, he was charismatic and no one knew anything about his admitted sexual misconduct with two female minor children before he became pastor. However, when I met Mary Grant and listened to her personal story of abuse and the struggles of her sisters and family, I suddenly became physically ill and became very angry.
How could the Diocese place Lenihan in charge of thousands of children and families, knowing that he had already admitted have sex with minor children? Yes, I felt betrayed because I sought counsel from Lenihan for an anulment before I married my husband--I sought counseling from an admitted sex abuser. This is hard stuff to accept and forgive.
Mon. Urell will have to come to terms with many decisions after his medical care in Canada. If he is struggling with what the Church attorneys are telling him to do with what his conscience is telling him to do, his recovery may take longer than expected. Hopefully the parisoners at St. Norbert's will not blindly protect Mon. Urell from doing the right thing in the future.
February 18, 2008 20:38
The false and deflection feable attempts by 'Afraid/Anonynmous' are clearly the handy work of PR or legal hack (laity paid for) of that Diocese, or Archdiocese.
There is a current on line effort by Tod Tamburg, under direct order of evil Roger Mahony, to try to direct online readers to pro LA run and spin web sites, this attempt on this blog site follows that pattern out of the Brown/Mahony serial pedophile enabler playbook.
For daily verfied stories on the continued criminal cover up of many diocese and archdicose, by many miters and red hats racketeering and enabling of clergy ongoing pedophile rings, I, your Pontiff, suggest:
www.bishop-accountability.org/abusetracker
Laity, there is but one way to drive these evil office holders to canonical censor, life house arrest, or irrevocable excommunication, STOP DONATING ANY MONIES until they are GONE!
Benedict XVI th
Pontiff & Sinner
February 18, 2008 20:48
Anon2: What distinguishes a "real" victim from a "fake" one? You're splitting hairs of the worst possible kind--blech...
February 18, 2008 21:03
Meanwhile, the anonymous faxer remains silent...
February 18, 2008 21:33
Anonymous ----- are you really this obtuse? There is no such thing as a 'consenting' minor -- the fact that a minor is below the age of 18, makes them incapable of consenting.
Your leap of logic also doesn't take into account that this was Joelle's teacher, ie, there was a fudiciary obligation on behalf of Hodgman, an obligation to conduct himself as a professional, not a child predator. Joelle was a kid, and supposed to be allowed to be one.
Finally, you 'assume' that no one else has come forward. Actually, there are at least 3 others that are victims of Hodgman. But, I'd bet you an a case of diet red faygo, that that isn't where it ends. Case in point: ever see someone who eats potato chips just eat one?
You can hide behind your cowardly fax but that won't change the truth. You wonder why people dont' speak up? Because of under-educated people like you. I hope you're never a victim of a violent crime like Joelle. But, if you are I hope you're not treated as poorly as you purport to treat Joelle.
It's easy to blame the victim, but why not seek the answers from those who covered all this up?
February 18, 2008 21:38
Anon2 -
have you ever met Joelle? She has been my nieghbor for years, and I had no idea about any of this. She is a godly person and has a beautiful family. She works hard. she is raising a good and moral child. And now I learn that she helps victims and gets beat up for it because she is not the "right kind" of victim.
very sad
February 18, 2008 21:43
There's questions when there's a "male teacher" and a "female victim". It's the old she wanted it defense. That's great. I know who anonymous2 is now. I'd like to introduce Joe Cavallo or is it Peter Callahan or maybe Maria Schiderle or possibly wait I've got it - OJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 18, 2008 21:47
You apologists think it won't happen to your son or daughter.
You love watching about sexual predators when it is on Dateline or when you can look at the deviant in the prison jumpsuit and think "Boy, he looks creepy."
But when the deviant is masquerading as a priest or a man affiliated with the church, you cry out "Oh no. It just can't be true."
February 18, 2008 22:45
HolyToledo:
that is why you educate your children to handle the situation accordingly like running away or like the common rape retaliation: kicking the offender in the private area. And when you go to church, strictly just go to church and go home. If you want to get involved in the church, just don't bring your kids. If you teach your kids how to act in such situations, you can prevent a similar touching from going as far as a sexual abuse when they are in their early teenage years.
February 18, 2008 22:59
I know Joelle Casteix. The person who sent the fax will have to see that their evil intentions backfired. Joelle is a decent and good woman. No one has walked in Joelle's shoes. I have talked with Joelle and I never heard Joelle be anything but honest.
I remember challenging Joelle about certain things that were painful to discuss. Joelle more than met the challenge. I was very humbled by Joelle's virtue of beautiful humility.
The person who tried to cause a buzz with the fax will have to remain hidden under a rock like a common insect. They are not interested in the truth. They are only interested in stinging and biting.
One day, someone is going to lift that rock and shine a flashlight on you. You will scatter with the other insects. That is the behavior of a coward.
Keep fighting the good fight Joelle. God has Blessed you for courage! I know you realize that!
That is what is important. Keep your faith in God!
February 18, 2008 23:05
Anon2: Damn. You've gone from insinuating Andrade's victim filed a lawsuit because she was bankrupt and because she didn't have a job to saying we should stop blaming Andrade. Forget about splitting hairs--you chopped off the ponytail. So how do you feel about battered women? Do you also hold them to the same absolutist sense of self-responsibility you do adolescent sex-abuse victims?
February 18, 2008 23:42
Here's your quote from above, Anon2:
In some cases (emphasis on some), people need to stop putting the blame on the teacher. The student is also at fault, even though it is minimal, its still partially their fault.
You've spent the better part of more than 10 comments basically calling Andrade's victim a slut who enjoyed it--and we're supposed to believe that what I cited doesn't refer to her? Then who?
Speaking of backtracking, here's one of your insinuations, regarding Andrade's victim's rationale for suing him years after the fact:
Obviously means shes bankrupt now and needs some source of cash so thats why shes suing Mater Dei when initially she actually most likely enjoyed her affair.
There are no qualifiers here--you're stating these points as FACTS. Where's the other side of the story here? Are you the accountant for Andrade's victim for you to be privy to such knowledge?
Finally, your rambles about battered women suggest the thoughts of someone with no clue. A battered woman is someone who suffers repeated abuse, not a singular incident by assault. My aunt was a battered wife who finally got out of her abusive relationship. When I asked her why she didn't leave her husband years earlier, she said that fear sometimes takes over one's life to the point that they're paralyzed. Anyone with a soul can see such is the case with these Church victims.
Neutral--my ass.
February 18, 2008 23:58
Maybe I did not make myself clear by saying simply "blame" instead of "all the blame."
Let me restate it: "In some cases (emphasis on some), people need to stop putting 100% blame on the teacher. The student is also at fault, even though it is minimal, its still partially their fault."
Heres another quote from my previous post that clearly shows that i was not defending Andrade: "Im certainly not defending Andrade because he broke the law by having sex with a minor"
And obviously i was referring to her.
And my apologies on comment about battered women, I somehow read it as rape victims in general. To compare a teacher-student relationship to a husband-wife relationship is absurd. A wife would definitely be paralyzed by her husband actions because he is the dominant (in this case...too dominant) part of the marriage and she feels a sort of helplessness against him because after all she is married to him and he would assert such a fact that he "owns her." In a teacher-student relationship, it is different. In some cases, you have a teacher who has a strange and inappropriate relationship with a student and you have the female student who is wrongly infatuated with a grown up man.
Again, we will never know the total truth. But we can certainly ask questions.
How am i not neutral? Im not defending anyone.
February 19, 2008 03:36
Anonymous2, If you get 3.2 million for a "fake" case what do you get for a real one? I'm done talking with you because you are intellectually dishonest and frankly a misogynist. Your statements about blaming abuse victims for not running away and reporting make about as much sense as blaming the Jews for the Holocaust. (I also should point out Andrade was reported for abusing our client a year before he was placed on leave.)
By the way in the Ruiz case the testimony was from both her and the male student (the son of a respected MDHS teacher) is that he pulled her into the bathroom and there was no sexual actvity. A nun (Sr. Mary Rose of the Garden)saw it happen and they both got detentions.) So much for her being sexually adventurous. Jackass.
May I suggest you think about attending the Seminary? You would make a wonderful priest.
February 19, 2008 07:49
DID THE ANONYMOUS2 GUY SEE THAT THRILLER PARODY WITH THE GECKOS? CAUSE HE SURE LOVES TO MOONWALK HIS WAY OUT OF EVERYTHING HE SAYS!
February 19, 2008 07:55
my my, 3:30 am posts from mr. Manly!
February 19, 2008 09:07
John Manly:
Thank you for clearing things up about the bathroom incident. Apparently the OC Weekly article left things hanging so I just had to assume the worst possible scenario. In terms of fake and real cases, one never really knows except the plantiff themself. In America, you can get slightly hit and exaggerate it completely to get money...its pretty pathetic. Now comparing sex-abuse victims to the Jews from the Holocaust is just ignorant. There are no similarities. You are comparing one person who was not kidnapped a whole race who was essentially was faced with the blame of a whole nation. Thats the stupidest and least sensible analogy I have ever heard.
May I suggest you go back to school and learn how different the Holocaust is compared to someone being taking advantaged of.
And intellectually dishonest and a misogynist? Did you not read what i posted in all my previous comments? I am glad that the diocese is being sued for these things because we now know the truth that they are just trying to cover up their asses. And I wish that we would have people like Andrade or the MD teacher now in Ohio in jail right now because frankly, they took advantage of a student where as an adult, you are suppose to protect them. But I also look at the whole picture? Did the so called 'victim' actually act in such a way that provoked the teacher to reciprocate to those flirtations? I mean mean maybe you, John, might know because your client disclosed to you everything but you just didn't present that to the court (after all lawyers only tend to tell white lies to win), but the public will never know after all the suing occurred 10 yrs later and there is really no solid proof of such a thing happening except between the teacher and the student, but who would believe the teacher, after all he did break the law by having sex with a minor. And obviously it seems like you totally forgot your days at Mater Dei, John. Don't you remember at the slightest that Mater Dei has alot of friendly teachers but some students actually become too friendly around the teachers (and God forbid they provoke a secret pedophile)?
Again, stop saying Im against women and Im for the perpetrators. Im just simply posing the question that possibly some of these victims stepped a little too far in their relationship with the teacher and that caused the teacher to act upon it. If you're reading this post and you're thinking that I'm an idiot and in life the student would never do such a thing, you are totally ignorant of life and you really need to go to high school (particularly Mater Dei of course) again and open your eyes.
February 19, 2008 09:09
It would be nice if Anonymous would quit hiding and reveal his or her real name. It's called fear, which is what most of us victims experienced all of our lives after are souls were murdered by the catholic church. No one wants the spotlight placed upon them especially regarding such a vile act. I didn't come forward until I realized I was not alone and that the pope and bishops were responsible for the cover-up. Anonymous, go rent the movie "Deliver us from Evil" than try and defend these sick men.
Gustavo,
It would be great if you could arrange a meeting with victims and people like Anonymous so they can learn the truth and quit defending the most corrupt "Good Old Boy" organization in the world.
February 19, 2008 09:18
MGauer:
Priests touching boys = a big NO NO
Teachers sexually abusing girls= also a big NO NO, but there are going to be some question marks to verify some things
And why should I have to put my name out in public? Im not famous or known or anything and even if i did so...what is that going to prove? nothing
February 19, 2008 09:25
Anon2: Amazingly, you dig yourself in a hole every time you post--I've never quite seen someone like that! Your quote:
Did the so called 'victim' actually act in such a way that provoked the teacher to reciprocate to those flirtations?
Provoked? Your language reminds me of OC Scariest Hall of Fame member Bernard Rappaport, who once said a four-year-old girl brought on her molestation because she acted coquettish. Sick--just sick.
John: You committed Godwin's Law of Nazi Analogies. I agree with you on the comparison, but I always love pointing that out whenever someone commits it.
MGauer: Joelle and other SNAP activists have had that longstanding offer to their detractors since forever--and no one ever takes them up on it. Strange...
February 19, 2008 09:35
Anonymous,
I have a feeling that you must have taken advantage of some child who liked you and admired you which you thought was actually a sexual advance. If you unfortunately did, than as John Manly stated earlier maybe you should join a seminary.
February 19, 2008 09:37
Ok Gustavo Arellano. My language reminds me of Bernard Rappaport? WOW, just how stupid are you? Comparing the mind of a 4 year old to a 16 year old? How ignorant of you. I hope everyone sees your comment and realizes that you are really dumb. Honestly. And on the Hitler analogy, John just had to mention it to look like he was the righteous one. Thats just a tatic people try to use to win an arguement. I would've expected better from John since he is an attorney.
February 19, 2008 09:48
You're the one casting teens as seductresses, idiot, not me. You're the one spewing all these assertions about victims without a clue. No more responses from me to you--not only are you an anonymous coward who doesn't mind talking lies, but you can't even keep your arguments straight. Good day, and pray extra-hard for your soul--I know I will!
February 19, 2008 09:50
So Anon2, I have some questions and things for you to think about:
If a 15-year old innocently flirts with you, does that make it okay for you to get her alone, have sex with her, and then threaten to kill her if she tells anyone?
And is that her fault?
Schoolgirl crushes are a natural rite of passage. Teachers taking advantage of that is a crime.
Did you not go to school with girls who thought Mr. So-and-so was "Hot?" Then if Mr. So-and-So knows this, asks the girl (who is an innocent with a crush) to stay after class, and then shoves his tongue down her throat, are you going to blame the girl? Don't you think she might be a little confused?
You probably had the same kind of crush on your first grade teacher. An innocent one. And if she had shoved her tongue down your throat, you would have been traumatized. It's the same for the 15-year-old girl.
Are you the same man you were when you were 15? Were you vulnerable? Did you make bad decisions because you were a child? Were you easily influenced by adults you really liked? Adults like rock stars ... athletes ...
Why don't they let 15-year-olds vote? Because they are children. 15-year-olds who go to war are permanently scarred, because they are not emotionally mature enough to understand the trauma around them. Why do high schools have required classes? Because 15-year-olds are not mature enough to completely create their own schedule.
Why are 15-year-olds not allowed to live alone? Because they are children.
Why is it against the law for an adult to have sex with a 15-year-old? Because they are not mature enough to understand adult sexuality. They understand teen sexuality - which is a VERY different thing. Is your sex life the same as it was when you were 15? I certainly hope not.
Did you have hot and heavy makeout sessions with your high school girlfriend? Did that automatically give your biology teacher the right to have sex with her? That seems to be your thinking ...
You are putting adult sensibilities into the head of a 15-year-old girl.
February 19, 2008 10:18
"it's sad, so sad. Such sad sad situation. And it's getting more and more absurd"
February 19, 2008 10:42
sockpuppet= "I'm joelle's friend who Told her not to post"
sockpuppet="Im joelle's's neighbor who knew nothing of this but..."
sockpuppet="I'm everyone except Joelle. Really I'm saying all this but I'm not Joelle. I know you know I'm not because I said so and I told her not to post. And she does what I say regarding these issues"
February 19, 2008 11:01
Sockpuppet="Person who switches between anonymous coward comments and Elton John." Those who cast stones, 'member?
February 19, 2008 11:04
Seems like Gustavo is running out of things to say against me when clearly he and everyone else misinterprets my point.
Judy, yes it is obvious that you do not have sex with a minor even if she is flirting with you. But basically I was pointing out the root that starts it all: simple flirtation. Stop that and alot of these abuses could have not occured.
Your example has a flaw: "shoves his tongue down her throat, are you going to blame the girl? "
No, I am not going to blame the girl. But im going to ask, why didnt you push him away before he started to advance towards too pretty close and shoved his tongue down your throat? Whats there to be confused about? Someone makes uncomfortable advances towards you...its kinda obvious what one would do.
And I'm not exactly putting every single adult sensibility into a 15 yr old mind. Im just simply putting in the fact that I would expect a female student to know what to do in certain situations and not just lie there helpless.
I know you're not going to answer but Im going to answer back so the public can be clear on some points that I have made.
"You're the one casting teens as seductresses, idiot, not me. You're the one spewing all these assertions about victims without a clue."
Uh, read again...i consistently say "some," not all. And if you're going to say "WOW, thats totally impossible!" then your just ignorant. Again, emphasis on the "some" part.
I would say an example of a "fake" abuse scandal is the well known Duke lacrosse one. She obviously faked it all to get some money. Im pretty sure advocates against sex-abuse like Joelle would hate when someone is a fake and undermines the truthfulness of their cause. Yes, having sex with a minor is wrong and illegal, but totally ruling out of the question that the "student might've provoked it" is totally nonsense. Theres always fakes out there who try to take advantage of the system.
I just want to reiterate that i am not defending any sex-abusers. Get that fact straight before you start attacking my comments. Most of these people are so close-minded and think that all minors are so innocent and that these minors wouldn't do such an illegal act! LOOK AROUND YOU. YOU have 16 yr olds getting arrested left and right for drunk driving. Yeah, the law is there for a reason and certain things are put in place for teens to be protected, but whats to stop some (again SOME) of them from breaking these boundaries.
And if you havent read any of my previous posts. My example of a real victim from what i know is Camille Overbeek. A teacher started touching her and she reported it right away before it became anything.
And Gustavo, there is nothing wrong with my soul, so you don't need to pray for it. Im not a woman-hater nor am i supporting sex offenders. Im just trying to make a point to the public that there are always fake people who are just suing for the money.
February 19, 2008 11:22
No one is allowed to defend me? I'm not allowed to have friends? Sheesh.
The only anonynous post attached to me was Matthew 23 - That was my husband (sorry to give you away, dear).
Simply because my friends (and yes, I have them) read the blog over coffee at my house does not make them sockpuppets.
Besides, I post all of the time under my own name - suffering much ridicule and vitriol in the process - why would I hide now?
Who do you think I am? Matt Cunningham?
February 19, 2008 12:22
Joelle Casteix says:
Mike Tardif? MD and Matt Fan? 94 grad?
Anyone, anyone? Hellooooooooooooo?
Hmmm, I guess they just aren't into accountability.
So quick to blame the victim,...
I mean really, I went to school with Mike Tardiff's daughters, ... and was in his wife's brownie troop. You would think that would grant me a little bit of credibility. I'm waiting ....
Mike Tardif says:
Joelle - For what in my posted comment to Gustavo do I need to account?
Where in that post do I blame the victim?
Where do I indicate that I doubt your credibility? I am waiting.
February 19, 2008 12:28
read the blog over coffee at your house. How quaint.
February 19, 2008 12:35
www.youtube.com for a FREE viewing of 'DELIVER US FROM EVIL' the 2006 US Academy Award BEST DOCUMENTARY nominated film, about one tiny aspect of the ongoing HUGE, and pervasive, global criminal cover, pedophile ring enabling, and clear and present uncorrected child endangerment by evil office holders like Roger Mahony (or Tod Brown) throughout the entire Roman Catholic Church.
If you go to www.amazon.com, there are over 75 empirical books out now on the Roman Catholic pedophile criminal cover up by the Curia, costing many billions of dollars of admitted to (the unadmitted dollars are much higher and rising daily) that the global laity are directly paying for. SACRILEGE by Leon Podles is VERY accurate, as are Fr. Thomas Doyle's (OP) books.
The ONLY way to rid the Church of pedophile enablers like Mahony and Brown (there are less than 3,500 wearing miters and red hats to 1.1 billion paying global laity) is for the laity to NOT donate any monies for any purpose, that these evil office holders can lay their hands for any reason.
Until the Mahony's and Brown's of the world are behind bars (unlikely, because of the ineptness of the civil and criminal courts and law enforcement ordered not to purse this giant racketeering, or more likely, canonically censored, removed forceably from office, and placed under house arrest for life, or alternatively irrevocably excommunicated, nothing will change, or be reformed (alla Maricel, the serial pedophile founder of the cult-like Mexican Legion of Christ).
I, formerly Joseph Ratzinger, am an old man, and the evil that surrounds me, will 'take me out early', like was done to Albino Lucani (JP the first)if I press too hard (what we across the Tiber call: "A Roman Prescription".
I have no fear of meeting my Maker, but just not right now, thank you.
It is YOU, the laity, through the power of controlling revenue to the Church, that are the last best hope of Our Lord Jesus Christ's Church on this Earth.
I BEG YOU to stop the flow of money, so I can then act against such evil office holders as Mahony and Brown!
Go With God, But Keep Your Wallets Zipped!
Beneict XVI th
Pontiff & Sinner
Posto Scripto: Last week, Fr. Andrew Greeley floated a suggestion in his Chicago based newspaper column, that the solution lies in "better self-policing" within the Church. Nothing could be further from the TRUTH, and it precisely the lack of self-policing by the current miter and red hat office holders (like Mahony and Brown) the pedophile clerical rings thrive to this very day; still raping, orally copulating, mentally torturing, extorting, endangering, kidnapping, physically maiming, sodomizing, suciding, murdering, hundreds of thousands of children, at laity expense. These office holders must be removed, once and for ALL!
If it takes a 'Scorched Earth' policy of starving the institutional Church into submisison, so be it! Clearly The Holy Spirit is leading the charge on such a noble and moral effort.
God Bless The Truth Tellers Like Gustavo Arellano's Of This World!!!
February 19, 2008 12:37
Bitchy, bitchy, bitchy.
February 19, 2008 12:53
Oops! My last comment, "Bitchy, bitchy, bitchy," was meant to follow the bitchy remark of Anonymous at 12:28, not Sieg Heil's blockbuster.
February 19, 2008 14:49
Since when does a victim provoke her rape? This anonymous 2 is the biggest idiot in the world!
February 19, 2008 16:07
May people like this Anonymous asswipe NEVER partake in adding to the gene pool. If he has already, then let's hope his kids never 'act' flirtatious enough around adults to 'ask for it'. I would be more than happy to assist in granting him a one-way pass into Corcoran where he can become someone's soapy little input. Hey, ignorant and shameless apologists, pull your heads out of your a-holes and see the hurt and damage that has been caused. All in the name of organized religion....Whether your Catholic or some Jesus freak with hilarious hair-do's, stop your shameful ways and grasp reality. Take your so-called moral religion, bind it to your likely right-wing fascist tendencies and go straight to hell. Otherwise, do the right thing as Jesus Christ would...
February 19, 2008 16:07
To Anon at 14:49:
She provokes the perp when she flirts with him. Haven't you thought of the fact that the student should just keep a relationship with a teachers strictly student-teacher and nothing more?
Now to rule out the fact that the victims never did anything to provoke the perp is just ignorant. Sometimes the victim party is at some fault. Maybe the victim didnt specifically provoke the person in order to get raped...but she shouldve refrained from doing ANYTHING in the first place other than simple teacher-student.
Compare this somewhat to a school shooting. A group of kids bully this boy, and the boy becomes an emotional wreck and kills the bullies. Yes it is a tragic event that people had to die, but anyone wonder what would have happened if the boy was not bullied? It couldve definitely stopped any murder. Just because someone is a victim doesn't always rule out the fact that they never did anything that provoked the perp.
It sometimes happens.
February 19, 2008 16:12
Mike -
You were so quick to criticize Gustavo, yet I believe that allowing kids to be raped is far more reprehensible than an open letter.
In fact, people on this blog have been much nastier to me because I was molested as a teen than was Gustavo's letter to Barkley.
You are right, you didn't blame victims, but I don't see you doing anything to help them, either. Barkley really didn't need defending. He probably really doesn't even care about the blog. His future is set - this is small potatoes.
As far as my credibility, I believe that it should have forced to you look closely at the problem and criticize MDHS for what they have done.
It could have been one of your girls. Would you be so quick to defend MD if it were?
Just some thoughts, you don't have to answer.
February 19, 2008 17:40
Anon2:
whatever .....
February 19, 2008 19:42
To Anonymous2: There is one point that you continue to avoid... the fact that the Diocese of Orange attorneys and General Counsel have continually assisted Mater Dei and other school administrators in covering up crimes, to ensure that the statute of limitations would expire..... leaving the Diocese safe from public scrutiny, scandal and lawsuit exposure. This is all about PR, wealth and political obstructions of justice... The OC Republican GOP takes care of their own and there are just too many excuses from the DA for not filing charges against the politically connected Diocesan employees. It is also important to note that Lu Dominguez, the administrator at Mater Dei HS who counseled Joelle to keep quiet and never reported the sexual misconduct Joelle reported to her, has been gainfully employed at Santa Margarita Catholic HS since she left Mater Dei.
In the real world, do you believe that life long employment is the reward that should be given to employees with ongoing patterns of failing to protect children from sex crimes or other types of danger? Ms. Dominguez, Ms. Dougherty and Ms. Peterson, two out of the three are still administrators at Santa Margarita Catholic HS, and conspired to conceal evidence about the felony gun possession of the former principal's son on the Catholic high school campus in 2001. A Columbine HS shooting tragedy combined with the clergy sex abuse crisis would make most believe that taking all precautions to protect children is the highest priority. Not in the Diocese of Orange.
Sure, children are SAFER than they were in years past but the root of the evil still consumes the management practices of the Diocese, with the same attorneys aiding and abetting cover ups, failures to report and PR spin to the public. Sadly, everyone involved is tainted now and if one person comes clean, everyone will go down--they are all sticking together for survival.
The truth still remains: If a school administrator does speak out to protect children and doesn't do it on the terms of the Diocesan hierarchy, they will find themselves unemployed, defamed and financially ruined for doing the right thing. The Diocese is an expert at finding excuses not to renew an employment contract immediately after an employee abides to mandated reporting laws or speaks out about wrongdoing. The General Counsel for the Diocese of Orange, Maria Rullo Schinderle, has proven time and time again that Diocesan employees either play by her rules or they will pay the price. And, anyone who dares to challenge Ms. Schinderle's wrath of power, hate and retaliation, soon finds themselves condemned to a life of Diocesan hate crimes and retaliation. Bishop Brown sits back and lets all of this happen....
This is what you call the CYLE OF ABUSE.... it continues until corrective action and truths are disclosed. Tragically, only a small percentage of truths have been exposed thanks to survivors of sexual predator Diocesan employees.
February 19, 2008 19:48
All Hail Debby Bodkin, with the 4,444th post on Navel Gazing.
Your prize is nothing.
February 19, 2008 20:59
From the fear of revenue loss, the truth was lost,
From the fear the truth, the children were lost,
From the fear of real light, the miters were lost,
By fear from the Curia, the Church was lost,
For want of power, the laity left in droves,
And all for the want of real truth.
Not a bad days work Roger and Tod!
Lucifer
Prince Of Darkness
Your Boss
February 19, 2008 21:48
Alex Brand Zawadzki is a funny man!
(Ha ha funny.)