posted on September 15, 2004 02:30:47 PM new
Sep 15, 3:12 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) -- A judge Wednesday refused to save a Roman Catholic church where parishioners have staged a [b]sit-in for the past two weeks[b] to protest its closing by the archdiocese.
The church, St. Albert the Great, is one of 82 parishes that are being closed by the Boston Archdiocese in large part because of the financial fallout from the clergy sex scandal.
Parishioners sued over the closing, seeking an injunction that would have barred the archdiocese from selling the church buildings and other assets.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Connolly rejected the parishioners' claim that the church belongs to them and not to the archdiocese.
"In making this finding, the court fully appreciates the hurt and suffering and loss suffered by the plaintiffs," Connolly wrote in a footnote. But he said he could not get involved in the dispute because of the constitutional separation between church and state.
He did not, however, dismiss the lawsuit altogether, leaving the parishioners with some hope that they could still prevail in trying to keep their church from closing.
The parishioners have held an around-the-clock prayer vigil and sit-in at the church since the final Mass was celebrated Aug. 29. Archdiocese officials said the parish officially ceased to exist Sept. 1.
The Rev. Christopher Coyne, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said church officials hope the ruling will help end the occupation.
Colin Riley, a spokesman for the parishioners, said the sit-in will continue. "We will not leave the property," he said.
A similar sit-in began Sunday at St. Anselm Church in Sudbury, which was scheduled to close on Wednesday.
Well well, it seems when the pedophile priest can't keep their pants up, then the church falls down. These people were deceived by this church, and it seems they still believe that they are going to have a church, when in fact they don't.
posted on September 15, 2004 09:59:11 PM newthese people were deceived by this church, and it seems they still believe that they are going to have a church, when in fact they don't.
Whatever happened to "fool me once,....."? It's too bad, but no matter how these people were mistreated by their parish, they don't own the church property.They never did. The judge is right. They probably only want the church operational so they can exact paybacks, anyway.
I feel deeply for those who have been abused. The perpetrator priests and their superiors who covered for them need to all be in jail. Having said that, I think the victim mentality itself can become as hurtful as any other damage that has been done. At some point, you stand up on your hind legs, get over blame, and on with your life, or you let bad things slowly but surely eat you alive.
posted on September 16, 2004 03:31:24 AM new
I do agree. The people who hid them are equally as bad. If there was a person who hid a murderer or rapist, that person would also be charged with a crime. But is seems that when it happens in the church, somehow it's OK or overlooked. Why?
Bigots are miserable people. Prevent Bigotry through Education.
posted on September 16, 2004 04:31:14 AM new
"But is seems that when it happens in the church, somehow it's OK or overlooked. Why? "
Indeed; Why?
What happened to accessory after the fact?
In fact, failing to do anything about ‘it’ often results in the perpetrator of ‘it’ going on to commit ‘it’ somewhere else.
"Work to keep Church and State separate!"????
Seems imposible for USA now, under GWB.
Imagine the outcry from Linda, et.al. if America were to have a Muslim President(not that it's likely/possible to happen). I’ll bet they’d scream for separation then.
What if America had new ‘Sabbath’ Laws, under a 'Trust in God Act'
Ex.31:13-15
Imagine if one of the Falliwells put that crazy notion in his head.
"People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history."
...George W. Bush
posted on September 16, 2004 11:31:37 AM new
I was talking to a local police officer about a month ago. He said that he had some minor burning on his face that was the over spray from using mace on a guy the refused to be arrested. I asked the police officer what was the reason behind the arrest. He said the guy made false statements in a police investigation 2 weeks earlier.
In this country we arrest people who drive drunk, shoplift, fall behind in child support, and other such things. I really can't understand why these priest are seemingly above the law.
P.S. I am not condoning the crimes that I mentioned above.
Bigots are miserable people. Prevent Bigotry through Education.
posted on September 16, 2004 06:46:12 PM new
First of all, I am NOT defending these perverts. The guilty ones definitely belong in jail for a VERY long time.
HOWEVER...
Proving that something happened twenty years ago when they didn't say anything at the time is a pretty tough case.
And then trying to prove that their superiors at the time were covering up for them is still more to prove.
And you also know as well as I do with the kind of money mentioned in the original article, there just HAVE to be a few innocent priests being accused just for the financial gain of the "victim".
This is a real problem. We all know it happens, probably pretty often. But you can't just throw these guys in jail on the accusation that something nearly unprovable happened decades ago.
I'm sure in many or even most cases the priest is guilty. But after so much time, it probably is tough to prove and even more difficult to punish the ones found guilty. Are they really going to throw a 70 year old retired priest in jail for a crime he probably doesn't even remember doing back when he was in his 40's? What kind of headlines would THAT get?
It's a sucky situation.
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We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing -- Anonymous
posted on September 16, 2004 08:41:09 PM new
realplay, I sincerely doubt he "doesnt remember it" and it probably didnt happen just the one time....
That said, what is yeager's fascination with pedophile priests all the time?
..
.. Go'wan and row yer boat. And try to do it merrily, merrily, cause this life IS but a dream...
Prevent Bigotry through Education.