tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post5455567652500422415..comments2023-10-22T09:32:13.417-04:00Comments on Big Trial | Philadelphia Trial Blog: Jury Convicts Priest, Teacher On Nine Of Ten CountsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04116104602505815614noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-54848567968071859382013-02-10T14:27:50.775-05:002013-02-10T14:27:50.775-05:00Kopride; I enjoy reading your comments on this blo...Kopride; I enjoy reading your comments on this blog. It is interesting to me to see the way Penn State has handled the sex abuse case against Jerry Sandusky and the coverup that followed.Sure, there are many Penn State alumni who think that the president of Penn State made big mistakes, but I believe, a bigger mistake would have been to attack the victims, and take zero responsibility for what happened. And that is the crux of the problem with the Hierarchy of the Church.At first they tried to buy the silence of victims.When it became apparent that even they didn't have that much money, they attacked the victims and their attorneys.That tactic isn't working too well either. What will come next? Any chance,they will see the error of their ways, come clean and try to help victims. Fat ChanceAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16703070117624170586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-71668464140100671972013-02-05T22:40:03.223-05:002013-02-05T22:40:03.223-05:00Seth Williams (District Attorney): "I did not...Seth Williams (District Attorney): "I did not expect it." <br />This statement says it all.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-65176051623632615402013-02-05T16:10:55.029-05:002013-02-05T16:10:55.029-05:00Arthur, thank you for offering to let me know thng...Arthur, thank you for offering to let me know thngs about the case, but. I was present there almost everyday. I understand you have a biased opinion on this case. But no evidence whatsoever was present. I know you wrote Ralph telling you couldn't get your head around this case, do you think there should have been another outcome?Frankenlil19https://www.blogger.com/profile/00586597830046218339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-17594615293228962592013-02-05T13:58:01.869-05:002013-02-05T13:58:01.869-05:00Chippy, you are so misinformed. I was able to hide...Chippy, you are so misinformed. I was able to hide the abuse Fr. Hermley did to me from my parents and 5 other siblings for weeks. Fact is after my mother finally sat down with me and I told her and confirmed the abuse I did not learn to later in life my father passed away without never knowing and when I questioned my mother about this, she stated the fear she had what my father would have done to Hermley. So don't say because the parents did not pick up on it, the abuse did not happen. I commend this victim father for the restraint he must of had. I will also say God help the soul to any individual that would think about hurting my family. No police, no DA would ever be able to protect that individual. I would even pay the bond to get that person out of jail to get them. <br /><br />Now what you are saying about the alternate jurors and their opinion is just that there opinion. What they say has no impact. What they say must be respected, but once again it means nothing.<br /><br />You have also accused individuals here of only writing so they can reread what they write, or have a fan base. I want you to understand this as I have posted numerous times. I am a survivor. I could care less what anyone else here thinks about me or what I write. Unlike you, Kopride, Bailey, and the rest of you I have first hand experience of how the catholic church deals with abuse, and unless you can state here you are a abuse survivor and have gone through the similar experiences you have no right to make such comments as you do. <br /><br />Also L.A. Boston, Minn. Ireland and Chaput DOES play a big role in these cases. It shows history of the catholic church and how they operate. It played a major factor regarding Lynn release and if the catholic church and its leaders could be trusted.<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-84335745336676195732013-02-05T11:51:06.003-05:002013-02-05T11:51:06.003-05:00"Your first paragraph is irrelevant."
O..."Your first paragraph is irrelevant." <br />Ok, Avery's guilty plea is irrelevant. And that is the problem with you folks. Even when priests plead guilty, you don't believe it. Lynne's trial produced a mountain of evidence that the church moved and protected abusers, much of it at the behest of the Cardinal through his hand Bill Lynne. Morally repugnant, perhaps obstruction of justice for which the statute of limitations had expired, but conspiracy? So, no, the grounds underlying Lynne's conviction are not irrelevant. They may be what gets him out of jail, but again--he wasn't innocent. He got a way with a whole series of crimes (Obstruction) and was convicted for a very novel theory. The man you mentioned was raped by Avery--he pleaded guilty to it. Out of respect for the one undisputed act, you shouldn't drop the name of this troubled adult; and I am unsure what you mean by target. Are you going to shoot him in the back? <br /><br />"2,000 years and still going strong"<br /><br />The Chinese kingdoms, dynasties, and empire spanned more than 2000 years. So did Egypt. how are they doing? As a religion or feature of the entire existence of humanity back to the dawn of civilization, it has existed for a relatively brief period. It is practically irrelevant in most of Western Europe and Scandinavia; it is declining in North and South America. US seminaries graduated about 500 seminarians last year, less than 1/3 they need to keep the numbers. Most of its relatively limited growth is in the Third World. Catholic school enrollment continues to decline and parishes continue to close. Any "success" the church proclaims only is couched in terms of its overall relative decline. Religious affiliation, in most cases, arises from the accident of birth, and the societal benefits that accompany membership or affiliation. If you were born in Saudi Arabia, you would be a very strict Sunni Muslim and be just as deluded that you were practicing the true faith for the reasons mentioned above. Most catholics voted for Obama and disagree with the Pope's stated position on birth control, divorce, and gay marriage. Catholics have abortions at the same rate as non-catholics. Aside from a place to practice some rituals such as baptism, weddings, and funerals to keep Mom and Gran happy, it is virtually irrelevant to the vast numbers who state a catholic affiliation. <br />kopridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14033734864815154844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-75012279139921987482013-02-05T10:40:58.977-05:002013-02-05T10:40:58.977-05:00Chippy111, I really wouldn't bother with kopri...Chippy111, I really wouldn't bother with kopride and his paranoid conspiracy theories. Ralph could of course confirm that we are different people if he so desired, but I wouldn't want him to waste his time on such nonsense. I'd rather he use that time sharing his thoughts with us on this debacle, and giving us the benefit of his experience. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-5372316004294115452013-02-05T10:10:50.985-05:002013-02-05T10:10:50.985-05:00The alternate jurors in this case sat through the ...The alternate jurors in this case sat through the entire two weeks of testimony and were dimissed after lunch on Friday 1/25/13 after closing statements. They heard every word in this case in the courtroom, not relying on blogs and a biased philly.com for all the info. To hear them come out and state their opinion causes me to think someone on that jury had an agenda and was very influential. They obviously did not take into account any of the defense testimony, none of it. They obviously did not see the prosecution put someone on the stand who said he did not know or touch Billy. These are the facts of the case and they were not used per the oath these people took when they were picked. You talk alot about evidence above. There was NO evidence in this case. A boy sexually assaulted and raped, no clothing ripped, no blood. His nurse mother and policeman father did not notice anything. Don't you think that is strange, for a parent not to notice a spec about the rapes and sexual assaults on a 10 year old son? Not a teenager or young adult. A 10 YEAR OLD KID, about 80 pounds in weight. Do you have kids? Do you think you would know even the smallest of clues that these things happened? I think you would. Do you know why his parents didn't know, because it did not happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-85860300725042858562013-02-05T08:32:41.439-05:002013-02-05T08:32:41.439-05:00No Chippy, alternate jurors, even if they were alt...No Chippy, alternate jurors, even if they were alternate jurors, are not jurors. In civil trials, alternate jurors are routinely released after the jury starts deliberating so we speak to them because we can't help ourselves to try and get an insight into what jurors are thinking about. They frequently are at odds with what the jury ultimately decides. With an alternative juror, you get the first impression before they start deliberating with the other jurors. At the start of deliberations, there were surely jurors who were leaning towards the defense. After deliberating with an open mind, they switched. That's why we have juror deliberations and we just don't take a poll of the jurors at the end of the trial. The opinion of an alternate juror means nothing more than my opinion. The verdict of the jury or a guilty plea means everything. They were found guilty. There are lots of verdicts where I personally would have reached different decisions. I would have found OJ and Casey Anthony guilty. But just because I disagree with them doesn't mean I start indicting the jurors or the system. If you talk to jurors after deliberations, you will find that their verdict was rationally based upon the evidence. It doesn't mean that you will agree with their reasoning, but their decision is rarely irrational or unfounded. This result was all too common in Philadelphia County. A victim with baggage accuses an accused. All you want to talk about is Billy's baggage and inconsistencies. The jury collectively decided that the other evidence outweighed that part of the case, including a priest who pleaded guilty to raping this kid. And you don't talk about other abuses in LA or elsewhere, not because you are some disinterested person driven only by justice, but because it doesn't fit your narrative of the poor innocent priests or a gang of catholic bashers determined to punish the church. Because the facts of this case are consistent with the culture exposed by practically every document dump from the major (Arch)Diocese in the country, which is that predator priests were tolerated and permitted access to children even after problems became known. When Avery attempted to recant, that part of the culture came back into the case and the jury was entitled to consider it. He was an admitted abuser before he ever came to St. Jerome and the jury was aware that priests protect their own. Avery recanting was consistent with that culture. Again, as I have said repeatedly, like the alternative juror who didn't sit as a juror, I feel going in there that I would not have agreed to a conviction.kopridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14033734864815154844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-33983217846870160372013-02-05T08:09:02.884-05:002013-02-05T08:09:02.884-05:00LOL. Listen both of you created Liveblog accounts ...LOL. Listen both of you created Liveblog accounts on the same day specifically to comment on this blog. Working for big corporations, I can tell you that they retain PR firms that do, among other things, post comments on news and other blogs to get their message out or amplify alleged outrage over a decision that they are unhappy with. The AOP has and continues to utilize very sophisticated PR firms. There are other folks who may be related to the defendants who would create multiple accounts for the same reason. And, like the NRA post bots who comment on any article remotely related to guns, there are the fanatics that are egged on by the leadership. In any event, its fairly obvious that you and Justone (and Franken) are working together to coordinate a sense of outrage over the verdict. <br /><br />Avery pleaded guilty. End.of.Story.kopridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14033734864815154844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-6007444154633285752013-02-05T06:38:37.872-05:002013-02-05T06:38:37.872-05:00KO, spin what you want. How about Chippy111, me, b...KO, spin what you want. How about Chippy111, me, being very involved in this case and not wanting to comment until all the facts were put on the table, instead of repeatedly throwing softballs at all the church haters like you eating ice cream in front of your PC and rambling on. I care about the real victims in this case, nothing more. I don't talk about other abuses, Chaput, or Los Angeles like all of your fans on this blog. I talk about this case and its facts. I don't have an agenda besides fairness. I am about justice and it was not served. There have now been two alternate jurors, one on philly.com and one on 6abc.com, who commented that there was reasonable doubt in this case, but preconceived notions led to this verdict. You probably think, I created all those user names too??? No, I have a life, a job, and a family. I don't waste my time doing those things to just read my posts. It was all a waste of time, they were guilty before they walked in the courtroom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-73887898131272521902013-02-05T06:25:34.190-05:002013-02-05T06:25:34.190-05:00I am not Justone. I honestly can say that. Kind of...I am not Justone. I honestly can say that. Kind of like you honestly have said in your comments that you would not have convicted these men. Reread your posts, its there. You say you look at the facts of this case. Don't you see the lies by Billy? Don't you read the articles here that you consistently spend your time commenting on? You are obviously educated, so use an educated, clear look at the facts of this case. Here's 1 - Billy said he was raped by Avery twice when he was a 5th grader in bell choir maintenance. He wasn't in bell choir maintenance in 5th grade, or 6th, or 7th. So that is a lie, which causes REASONABLE DOUBT about the entire case. Engelhardt apparently, according to Billy's (drug addict, career criminal) testimony alone, told him about sessions (Billy's testimony only, no evidence to suggest this ever happened) in the same 5th grade year. So if he wasn't raped by Avery in the 5th grade, then why was there a conspiracy charge? Please see through the lies. Innocent victims and families are suffering right now at the hands of a career criminal and drug addict. What has society come to that people like this are to be believed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-32912547878906723562013-02-04T23:17:17.601-05:002013-02-04T23:17:17.601-05:00Seth Williams:
“We have the same standard of justi...Seth Williams:<br />“We have the same standard of justice for everyone, and for years of protecting pedophile priests or people because of what their status is, hopefully those days are over. There is not enough jail time that they could get for what they did to this victim.”<br /><br />This statement says it all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-1202590301697144322013-02-04T22:15:53.415-05:002013-02-04T22:15:53.415-05:00Franken looks like a recently created dummy blogge...Franken looks like a recently created dummy blogger account as well. kopridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14033734864815154844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-59418911719408275572013-02-04T22:10:38.324-05:002013-02-04T22:10:38.324-05:00Funny that chippy and Justone's Liveblog accou...Funny that chippy and Justone's Liveblog accounts were created on 1/18/13. It's either one delusional guy with a split personality or bad PR treatment by the AOP public relations firms. So at least half or not more of the church apologists are dummy Liveblog accounts, or David Pierre and his fanboys. All I can do is laugh. It's just that pathetic.kopridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14033734864815154844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-25472697369475761752013-02-04T22:04:26.732-05:002013-02-04T22:04:26.732-05:00Chippy a/k/a Justone, if you want to fool people b...Chippy a/k/a Justone, if you want to fool people by creating duplicate Liveblog accounts, don't create them the same day. It's just too obvious. kopridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14033734864815154844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-35717858703723266962013-02-04T21:56:20.830-05:002013-02-04T21:56:20.830-05:00Justone, I have said repeatedly that I would not h...Justone, I have said repeatedly that I would not have convicted these defendants based upon what Ralph reported. That doesn't mean they are innocent. As for justice, I have serious issues with the legal framework underlying Lynne's conviction. But he is far from innocent in any moral sense. Avery pleaded guilty and was an admitted abuser even before he got to St. Jerome's. his sentence is neither unjust nor undeserved. <br /><br />The church has no interest in justice beyond its own self preservation. If the Cardinal prays at all, he prays that delusional Catholics will continue to throw money in the plate and that the US Goverment continues to subsidize catholic charities. The RCC is a floundering corporation with bad leadership; and a tired product. If a Cardinal's prayers are what they are selling, few are buying.kopridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14033734864815154844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-47294775292920879772013-02-04T13:40:29.147-05:002013-02-04T13:40:29.147-05:00I think what the Cardinal will pray for is that ju...I think what the Cardinal will pray for is that justice will be done, and that three innocent men will soon be exonerated. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-56252597050470025022013-02-04T13:34:25.040-05:002013-02-04T13:34:25.040-05:00Chippy 111, and, as always, innocent men are behin...Chippy 111, and, as always, innocent men are behind bars and have their pictures and names splashed all over the media, while a drug-addled serial liar enjoys anonymity and the prospect of ill-gotten gains rescuing him - temporarily - from the shipwreck that is his life. I wonder if a name has yet surfaced for this fraudster? Or if any more information, links, photos etc about him have been posted so that people in the neighborhood to where he has retreated can be warned that they have a false accuser in their midst. <br />When the judicial system fails so spectacularly, people come to the conclusion that they can only correct injustices via other means. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-22494071213416739042013-02-04T10:07:23.855-05:002013-02-04T10:07:23.855-05:00Arthur,
If you were there, as was the writer of t...Arthur,<br /><br />If you were there, as was the writer of this blog (EVERY MINUTE OF THE TRIAL) how is it that you have a 100% different interpretation than him on the outcome. I believe you are a friend or relative of Billy. I obviously can't prove it, but that is my assumption. To hear a veteran non-biased journalist like Ralph give the play by play for two weeks and then be absolutely shocked at the verdict speaks volumes. The decision in this case is without logic and human decency. You can be a church and priest hater, but please look at the real testimony in this case that you apparently heard. If you can say they were guilty beyond a reasonable doubt then you have an agenda. It is a shame that today in society, a drug addict, convicted felon is believed over good, upstanding character witnesses and non-biased school teachers and nuns who contradict this could have happened the way Billy says it did. Plus the fact that there were three versions of this is doubt alone. Check out the philly.com article from 1/30/13 in the comments section. An alternate juror wrote that they could not be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Something happened in that juror room that swayed 12 people. Someone had an agenda and punished these men in spite of the facts and testimony of the case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-30478768703411346542013-02-04T08:57:30.614-05:002013-02-04T08:57:30.614-05:00The problem is that you people have a real argumen...The problem is that you people have a real argument for abuse in the Church. We all fell bad for what happened to REAL VICTIMS, like Mr Ecker and Robertson, etc. But you and they, should be appalled by the lies in this case. This kid makes the real abuse cases look so unreal, such a scam. And those real victims should not feel elated IN THIS CASE. This kid has taken everyone for a ride. For whatever reason the jury did not listen to any testimony contradicting one kids story. Prosecution witnesses and defense witness both gave testimony causing real doubt. These are facts you can't argue against. REAL DOUBT.<br /><br />But a jury took it upon themselves to crucify the church for whatever reason. They did not stay true to the oath they took when they signed on for this case. They had an agenda. Families of this accused men are ruined today and will not heal soon. Dio you have an sympathy for them after reading my statements of dubt above? How would you feel if an innocent relative or friend was convicted in this way, without a fair trial?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-17924201176313560182013-02-04T08:48:20.533-05:002013-02-04T08:48:20.533-05:00Molly, What world do you live in? Do you live in a...Molly, What world do you live in? Do you live in a world where you think jurors look at the facts in these cases and decide reasonable doubt, or do you live in a world where jurors take justice into there own hands because they or a small few at least, have an agenda against the church. These men should not be paying for the sins of others if they did not do anything. Look at the articles on this blog, specifically Ralph's recap above. Look at what was produced by the prosecution:<br />-Billy tells multiple stories to a social worker, a detective, and the grand jury. THREE DIFFERENT STORIES = Doubt<br />-He says he was high when he told the social worker version 1 = That alone is resonable doubt<br />-His father was with him the day he spoke with the social worker, which is the same day the diocese took these men out of service - Yet he was high? High at his house? On Heroin? His dad did not testify that he was high, and actually it was said that he was in rehab at the time, over this two day period, coming out to a man at the rehab. Yet he was high on heroin on the one day he spoke to this social worker? = Doubt<br />-The rehab worker was not called by the prosecution? = Why not if he was confided in about these heinous crimes first as an adult?<br />-The prosecution produces a witness, even though he is a priest, and THEIR witness says he did not know this kid, speak with Engelhardt about the kid, or know anything that happened to him. This is a prosecution witness, not a defense witness!!!! = Doubt<br />-And this jury still ruled guilty of conspiracty??? How? They only person who talked about the priests talking to each other was Billy and the DA? All testimony produced serious doubt that these two priests even talked to each other, except for a spaghetti dinner on random wednesday nights, with 5 other people in the rectory. = DOUBT<br />-The recollection of the two other alter boys called by the prosecution to talk about Billy changing demeaner - DID NOT REMEMBER FATHER ENGELHARDT. Directly asked by McGovern - Do you remember my client from your 8 years at the school and 4 years as an alter boy: The answer from both was NO = Doubt <br />-As Ralph points out above, and as many readers of this blog have stated, "Calling Balls and Strikes" throughout this case. <br />"There was no physical evidence in the case, and no corroborating witnesses. Just Billy and his stories about how he had been brutally raped by three men in two years, while his mother, a nurse, and his father, a Philadelphia police officer, and his doctor, who testified in the case, never noticed a thing. Not even a pair of bloody underwear. Are you kidding me?" = DOUBT<br />-The friend Leo Hernandez is told about this abuse twice. 1st time when two fifteen year old kids are drinking in Billy's basement and the other when they are in a northeast philly bar. And when a addict is supposed to be recovering from some of the most addictive drugs we know, pills, heroin, cocaine - Are they supposed to be out drinking alcohol? If you knew an addict in recovery, would you think it would be a good thing for him to be in a bar after work? = Doubt<br />-The scene of the crime: 4 doors locked in a chruch where anyone can come and go and know one during the two incidents happened to be around? One door led to the school. One led to the bathroom for parishiners at the church. - Yet during these two incidents not one person, parishiner, nun, teacher, other priest was around and noticed that all 4 doors were locked. And the school personnel testified that those doors were never locked. People who, maybe you disagree, don't have an agenda here. = Doubt<br /><br />Billy says he was molested by Avery when he was part of the bell choir maintenance in the 5th grade. No 5th, 6th, or 7th graders were ever part of the bell choir maintenance crew at St. Jeromes in the past 25 years. Never, not one kid, especially the scrawny 5th grader portrayed in his picture by the prosecution = Doubt<br /><br />I can go on and on and on. And on and on and on.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-10500119988635874972013-02-04T01:07:49.508-05:002013-02-04T01:07:49.508-05:00Thanks for replying to my biased comments. I look...Thanks for replying to my biased comments. I looked forward to hearing from you. You're just mad because I called it and you didn't. You were way, way off, Frank. Not even close. But don't be such a sore loser. Your church is involved in dozens of child rape cases and your church just might win one if you hang in there long enough. Next up for national attention is Cardinal Mahony of Los Angeles. Do you want to take a stab at how that one's gonna turn out? SarahTX2https://www.blogger.com/profile/13127925134697324637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-48866748888363378012013-02-02T22:36:00.534-05:002013-02-02T22:36:00.534-05:00Justone, I don't disagree with your assertions...Justone, I don't disagree with your assertions about issues surrounding repressed memory. I can't speak for California, but expert testimony about this concept would be excluded in PA and would probably be excluded in CA federal courts. It just hasn't been sufficiently validated. They say that "hard cases" make bad law and the discovery of clergy files documenting the church's systematic cover up of credible or admitted child abuse that could not be prosecuted civilly or criminally created the type of hard cases that set a dangerous precedent. Statutes of limitations exist for valid reasons because it can be difficult to defend these allegations after a long passage of time. I am not in favor of ridiculous periods to bring these claims. The equitable doctrine of fraudulent concealment seems adequate to address the "hard case." And you are right that secondary gain can loom large in delayed claims. <br /><br />I still don't think that what Jim is talking about is repressed memory. His mom told him to forget it, and he listened to his mom. He was successful in trying not to think about it, but unsuccessful in getting over it. When he got sober and entered therapy, he confronted his childhood memories. True farcical repressed memory involves very suggestive therapy and memories about events that were never reported in childhood or early adulthood. In Jim's case, there was a contemporaneous report. He was told by adults that it was all in his imagination and that he should forget about it. That's a different kettle of fish. kopridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14033734864815154844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-64748525218681122892013-02-02T22:12:27.508-05:002013-02-02T22:12:27.508-05:00Yes, in most people's mind, indecent assault o...Yes, in most people's mind, indecent assault on a child would be characterized as "rape." If he sued me for libel because the jury did not specifically find penetration, I would win. Rape and rapist are fair descriptions. You could describe a person convicted of manslaughter as a murderer. It is a lesser degree of murder but felonious killing of another is "murder" in the colloquial and common law sense. Felonious sexual assault is rape by any reasonable interpretation. The absence of penetration doesn't really seem to be a meaningful distinction. And under common law, rape involved only forced sexual intercourse with a woman not your wife. Other offenses would be buggery or sodomy.<br /><br />But I will concede your point, this post is about the verdict and not the colloquial understanding of the term rape. I should have been more precise. Characterizing a mere molester of children as a "rapist" is not technically correct, and does a grave disservice to the priests who merely molested children but did not penetrate them. In the protective custody wing of the jail, Engelhardt should have more street cred and status than Shero. The Cardinal will have to pray more for the soul of Shero and Avery than Engelhardt.kopridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14033734864815154844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876661997317409023.post-75244078080741528962013-02-02T15:54:15.274-05:002013-02-02T15:54:15.274-05:00Sir, I hope you do understand my request was only ...Sir, I hope you do understand my request was only a chance to push someones button. The fact is I once did contact a lawyer regarding my abuse however at the time I was informed by my attorney I would most likely have to sign a non-disclosure statement regarding my abuse, and I said NO.Contrary to someones belief here I collected. Speaking for myself no amount of money would ever make me forget what Father Hermley of Father Judge H.S. did to me, and if I signed that agreement I would no longer be able to talk about what he did to me, mention his name and so on. That the great northeast high school harbored a abuser. It would be signing my soul over to the devil. <br /><br />Now to talk about Chaput you were polite calling him a "blowhard" I have had conversed with him and my impression is nothing more than an arrogant individual with an attitude, and after speaking with the DA's office, members of the media, and other sources I have learned that he is in fear of three things. They are the Police, the media and individuals like me. He does not like to be pressured as he stated to me., and I believe this counsel he has in place as you say also has a non-disclosure, and in the end he will blame for the delay of HIS investigation. The facts are he stated back in May 2012 he would release findings, he has released one. My question to him has been even if the investigations are not complete why has he not released the findings he does have ? <br /><br />In closing your comments are a very interesting read and although I do not agree with everything you say I respect everything you say. I believe Chaput to be nothing more than a "yes" man to the vatican, and when he came to Philly he thought it would be a cake walk. He is slowly understanding his clerical garb and white collar will not gain him respect alone in Philly (hell we snowballed Santa Claus) and if does not do what is right he can find himself in the same position as Lynn for the failure to protect children. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com