RICO suit filed against U.S. Catholic bishops, Lavender Mafia

Cruxnews.com ^ | July 23, 2004 | Michael S. Rose

[Alfred Hitchcock]

(TUCSON, Arizona) -- A former Catholic seminarian is suing the Diocese of Tucson, its bishops, and Bishop Wilton Gregory, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops among other high-ranking American prelates. The suit alleges a pattern of racketeering activity exemplified by fraud and obstruction of justice.

Attorney Ivan Abrams filed the case under provisions of federal RICO - Racketeering Influence and Corrupt Organizations - statutes. The federal RICO law is a set of statutes that was initially directed at shutting down organized crime. Over the past two years, however, RICO has been used by some plaintiffs who argue that the Church cover-up of the clergy abuse crisis falls under RICO’s provisions.

Philip A. Hower was studying at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, when he was ousted from the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania by now-Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore. Hower claims he was essentially ‘fired’ and later blackballed from ordination in other dioceses because he ‘blew the whistle’ on the homosexual activities of priests with whom he resided as a priest candidate.

[Petronski]

Hmmm. Your very first post.

[patent]

Remarkable.

[Old Sarge]

"Lavendar Mafia" - a truly ironic phrase...

[no more apples]

Ping

[Carry_Okie]

What do you make of this? Is it really this bad?

[Rutles4Ever]

Hmmmm... it's actually a good article, and an important one at that. As a practicing conservative Catholic, I have zero tolerance for the clergy that have brought this tribulation upon the Church. If it takes RICO to cleanse the priesthood of the homosexuals and progressive "thinkers", then by all means...

[ikka]

I predicted this over a year ago.

RICO will be used to tie together the various arch-dioceses, which currently are separate corporations (corporation sole is I think the term). We are nearing the trial lawyer's endgame - once a RICO based lawsuit gets a hit, we will see lawsuit after lawsuit. Expect to see ads on TV trolling for new clients as lawyer after lawyer lines up for a shot at the jackpot.

[valkyrieanne]

It's about time. Too bad it's not US prosecutors bringing the suit.

[FourtySeven]

Reading the whole article, this guy Hower has to be either the unluckiest guy in the world, or the craziest. Unless we're to believe the Catholic Church is staffed entirely by homosexuals.

Since I have no reason to believe the latter, I'll believe the former. No one's going to convince me though that every priest (or nearly every one) is a homosexual (or homosexual sympathizer) which, if I understand the law correctly, one would need to believe that in order to go forward with the RICO prosecution.

[Petronski]

Oooh, your so . . . stern.

[George W. Bush]

Truly a shocking story. One has to wonder if the number of dioceses in the country where a young celibate man can become a priest is actually in the minority. I do retain a confidence in the two conservative bishops in my own state. But I think they're rare among U.S. bishops.

Another shocker with photos from CruxNews on the Austrian scandal, The Catholic Church's Abu Ghraib. It doesn't look much like wholesome fun around the seminary to me.

I think it will be years before the extent of Lavender infiltration and domination of most branches of the Roman church is fully exposed.

[spunkets]

"...Unless we're to believe the Catholic Church is staffed entirely by homosexuals.

You are right. The RICO statutes apply to criminal organizations where the intent is to protect and maintain criminal operations. This suit and it's claims are a sham.

[Dog Gone]

Too bad it's not US prosecutors bringing the suit.

Politically, they can't do that. What is percentage of Americans who are Catholic? Something like 25%?

Relatively few of them support the child abusers, but many would resent what would appear to be a government-backed assault against the church. I think that's why it's been left to local law enforcement to bring any charges against priests who have violated the law.

[FourtySeven]

You are right. The RICO statutes apply to criminal organizations where the intent is to protect and maintain criminal operations. This suit and it's claims are a sham.

That's true, I hadn't thought of that. It looks like I was right but for the wrong reason. Since homosexuality isn't a crime, no way the RICO statues can apply here.

[GrandMoM]

I've been a Catholic almost all my life, and I totally agree with you. The fact that these molesters were protected and unpunished for so many years is appalling!

....may God forgive them, I can't!

[Puddleglum]

I hope the young man has some proof of his allegations because, if they are true, I want this sort of thing ripped up root and branch from the Church. I hope the young man can be accepted into a conservative, non-diocesan (sp) order. Maybe a second Reformation is needed to rip the roof off of some buildings, let the sunlight in, then cart out some deadwood.

[NCPAC]

"I predicted this over a year ago."

I predicted it awhile back as well,...only to have one of the "Defend the Catholic Church at any cost" kool-aid drinkers lay into me for being a "moron" who didn't know what he was talking about.

It's about time the law got serious about pedo-priests and those who shield them.

[Askel5]

=== Is it really this bad?


What, the homosexuality in the Church which allows for the worst possible intrigue, compromise, corruption and even out-right murder as they're used to destroy the Church from within?

No worse than the Republican Party or the political elite of the EU, I don't think.