Vatican Declined to Try Accused Priest

[sabra]

Source: NY Times

A Catholic priest charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Minnesota has been allowed to continue working at a Catholic diocese in southern India despite warnings from an American bishop that he could still “pose a risk to minors,” according to church documents released Monday.

In a letter sent in December 2005, the bishop, Victor H. Balke, told Vatican authorities that preliminary investigations showed that the priest, Father Joseph Pavanivel Jeyapaul, had molested a 16-year-old girl after promising to discuss her interest in becoming a nun. Bishop Balke wrote that the priest had also “misappropriated a substantial amount of money.” Bishop Balke asked the Vatican to investigate the allegations and “apply whatever penalty you feel appropriate.”

He wrote that Father Jeyapaul, who had returned to India to care for his dying mother, was not complying with his request to return to the diocese to be made accountable.

But five months later, the Vatican office he appealed to, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, declined to take on the case, saying only that “Father Jeyapaul’s priestly life should be monitored so that he does not constitute a risk to minors and does not create scandal among the faithful.” The Vatican office is charged with investigating sexual abuse.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/world/europe/06church.html?hp

[hedgehog]

1. "Authorities in Minnesota are currently seeking to extradite Father Jeyapaul. "

[ladywnch]

3. good! I hope they succeed.

maybe the Pope will get pissed and pull the Catholic church out of America! LOL

[skyounkin]

2. This disgusting pedophile needs to go to jail!

[pnwmom]

6. FWIW, he is alleged to be a rapist, not a pedophile. nt

[skyounkin]

11. Whoops- thanx- my bad.

[Iowa]

4. The Catholic hierarchy simply doesn't believe that sexual abuse of minors is that big of a deal...

"We cannot simply throw out the priest, so he is just staying in the bishop’s house, and he is helping me with the appointment of teachers,” the bishop, told The A.P. “He says he is innocent, and these are only allegations. I don’t know what else to do."

Nothing whatsoever has changed. The predators will continue to be supported, encouraged, shielded, and enabled. And any Catholic who continues to prop up this organization via their financial support is complicit in these ongoing crimes.

[Matariki]

5. I'm confused. Why don't US laws apply?

I mean, if a 16 year old girl has sex with her 18 year old boyfriend, the boyfriend can end up being a sex offender.

How is it that priests aren't subject to the laws of the country they live in?

[HereSince1628]

7. Because he is in India and it will require embarrassing both countries

The embarrassment of contries is MUCH more important than the violation of individuals.

THE HOLY SEE SAYS GET WITH THE PROGRAM, MOUTH BREATHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[snake in the grass]

9. The difference is that...

...when you use the word church or carry the title of pastor, reverend, father, etc., you can get away with a lot in the U.S. Just look at those abused kids from that obscure Mormon group in Texas (the one with the pioneer dresses). They were sent back to their homes, where the abuse is most surely being continued. Aside from human sacrifices, I cannot think of something that isn't allowed in some way and this is done out of 'respect' for these beliefs. We must 'respect' the irrational.

It's a sickening double standard. Something close to a second Age of Enlightenment is what we need. And yes, I'll say it, these groups and their supporters should not be allowed in any way, neither directly nor indirectly, to have anything to do with government or lawmaking. This starts with no beer on Sunday and goes to things like controlling what women decide to do with their bodies. That the Texas Board of 'Edumacation' is allowed to dictate what the rest of the states teach, and thus are dumbing down the next generation, is simply inexcusable.

Je deteste l'idee de toutes les religions. C'est une des idees les plus diaboliques dans l'histoire entiere de l'homme.

[lark]

8. Are all Catholics Repugs?

Or do they just both act the same? I mean, really, how could a person continue on with this church when they have practically institutionalized child molestation? They, like Repugs, don't give a damn about anybody but the people who give large donations and tolerate the weakest being preyed upon. It's absolutely sickening.

[Tailormyst]

10. Same shit different day