Someone Is Listening

Well well I stand corrected. The Post Dispatch has reported two more sex crimes that I have read about. Both are male teachers having sex with teenage girls. They are making front page news as well as top stories on TV. With all due respect they are innocent until proven guilty so I hope the stories are not true. Unfortunately most of the stories turn out to be true. Let me share one thing with you. This is a true story and happened about 2 years ago. There was a man in a local community who was hard working, provided for his family, loved his wife and children and had a nice home and a good life. He had a bit of a problem with with the internet and was attracted to pornography. He was drawn into a sting much like the one in St. Louis. He agreed to meet with this girl and her motherat a local restaurant. The man drove to the restaurant, came to his senses, and without parking, drove away. The police chased him and arrested him anyway accusing him of attempted statutory rape. His face was in the paper and on the news. He lost his name, credibility, job, and his wife over the ordeal. Months later he was found NOT GUILTY and was acquitted of all charges. Whoops! Sorry about that! Too bad dude, you lost everything. Granted what was he thinking in the first place? Obviously he didn't start thinking until he got in the parking lot. I guess the moral of the story goes to my previous post that we need to have innocent until proven guilty back in our society. With 24 hour media coverage and instant access to the news, the media tries and convicts people in the court of public opinion. Thus the innocent get placed next to the guilty. There are more people getting set free today because of DNA testing. There are many innocent people in prison today. I find that frightening. A Southeast Missouri man was recently set free (see www.semissourian.com). After spending time in prison for a murder, DNA testing recently exhonerated him from the charges. He lost 14 years of his life that he will never get back. Police need to do a better job at obtaining the proper evidence to convict the guilty and stop arresting people who are only guilty of making stupid decisions. I hope these innocent people get millions in lawsuit money. They will not be able to buy back their lost years but I suspect they would gladly trade the money in to have those years returned.

Bless me Father for I Have Not Blogged

Wow its been over two weeks since I put a post in here. Forgive me. I'm Catholic so I can poke fun at the Father thing. God has a sense of humor. Ask any parent. Okay on to the point. Recently a Catholic priest was arrested in a sting operation. Allegedly the priest inquired about how much sexual favors would be with a 16 year old girl and went to meet her. Seeing that something was not kosher he reportedly turned about face and tried to leave but was arrested anyway. I get it. The fact he went there or was online looking for sex with a young girl is disturbing. I know stupid, stupid, and more stupid. HOWEVER...so much for innocent until proven guilty in this area of the country. The St. Louis Post Dispatch is trying and convicting the guy already. The rules do not seem to apply to Catholic priests. If this was a little league coach or Baptist minister it would be 3rd page news. But its a priest! It makes headlines, bold print, daily coverage of his every move. A reminder of abuses gone by. As a Catholic, this is painful to watch. My thinking is 1) I hope this not true and 2) he's a pedophile who happens to be a priest. He is not the church I know and love. He does not represent us all any more that one female teacher who abuses represents all female teachers. The Diocesan Bishops have done an excellent job of trying to educate people and make ammends to those who have been hurt by priests. Child abusers come in all sizes, shapes and religious dominations. Female teachers who coerce young boys are not treated as badly as Catholic priests. Shockingly, the victims can look like studs and heroes for getting an older woman to have sex with them. Some believe that they are actually falling in love and believe that they will spend their lives with the female offenders.
Those who seek out young kids for sexual favors have a problem and are sent to Sexual Offender treatment. This is not about sex or gratification. Its about power and control and taking power over a person smaller and weaker than you. That explains why a minister does not hire an escort for sex. Its not about sex. Maybe the power and control issues can be treated. We'll see. I tend to believe that the perpetrators walk the line to avoid prison and go through the offender programs but no real treatment is done.
For the priests who are sent into exile, who stay at special residences for offending clergy, I suppose treatment is worth a try. The fear of going to prison should be treatment enough for these people. The compulsion to offend is like a drug transaction in the street. The offender does not think of the consequences. The compulsive behavior is in control. Maybe that can be treated but I am skeptical. In the meantime remember that it happens in all religious dominations, schools, and scout camps. Sex Offenders place themselves in places where there are children ON PURPOSE. That's why they are called predators. They are searching for their next victim. Its sad that clergy are found in that category but they are. Its up to us as parents to tell our children about child abuse and teach them skills to protect themselves.