Hide-the-priest

The Dallas Morning News is running an investigation on the noxious Catholic Church practice of hiding pedophile priests from the authorities, often letting them work with children.

Runaway priests hiding in plain sight

Catholic Priests accused of sexually abusing children are hiding abroad and working in church ministries, the Dallas Morning News has found.

From Africa to Latin America to Europe to Asia, these priests have started new lives in unsuspecting communities, often with the help of church officials. They are leading parishes, teaching and continuing to work in settings that bring them into contact with children, despite church claims to the contrary.

Priests charged with sexual abuse hidden abroad by church

Convicted priest sexual abuser and fugitive works with kids in Samoa

Cardinal offered sanctuary to admitted molester

Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez could be the next pope. He also recently sheltered an admitted child molester.

Slide show and audio

And from the LA Times

Vatican aware of abuse for centuries, study says

Facing an estimated 800 sexual-abuse lawsuits in California, Roman Catholic officials have argued that the church learned only in recent years that it had a widespread problem with priests molesting children.

A report in February by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, for example, said Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and other bishops didn’t realize until 1985 that sexual abuse by clergy was “more than a matter of tragic but isolated incidents.”

But a North Carolina priest and two former monks who live in Southern California say they have scoured ancient Vatican records and forgotten Latin texts to show just the opposite: that the church has recognized the problem of abuse by priests for at least 1,700 years and has failed to address it successfully.

Thanks to Miss Monica for the info!

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Nader to supporters: Vote for Kerry if it’s close

The longtime consumer advocate wants would-be supporters to attend his rallies, but he says he wants them to feel free to cast their votes for Sen. John Kerry once they enter the voting booth — especially in swing states where their vote might help defeat President Bush.

Good. This is a principled stand, and will also shut up the more loony and vociferous Democrats. DailyKos generally has excellent political coverage, but on Nader, Kos isn’t rational. For example, he just posted a photo of a Nader organizer in Arizona talking to a Republican as proof of the hideous conpiracy Nader is engaging in, consorting with actual Republicans and all. I guess Kos must be so unsullied and pure that he has never ever spoken to a Republican, eh?

In reality, speaking as a former co-chair of the Green Party of LA County, I know several Green activists who say they would be Republicans if they weren’t Greens, including one who was an elected Republican town council member. Plus, polls have shown about 25% of those voting for Nader in 2000 were Republicans. So, take off the tinfoil hat, Kos.

The Nader/Camejo ticket will focus on the war and progressive issues. Hey, someone has to, Kerry sure isn’t. Nader has shown he can grab major media attention, and Camejo is a mature, intelligent long-time activist who impressed many non-Greens during his California governor run earlier this year. Together, they may well force Kerry to tilt left. Good.

Meanwhile, Kerry continues to waffle on the war

Senate votes to add 20,000 troops to Army: Kerry abstains

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Yet another sign that Bush is losing his grip on power

US withdraws war crimes immunity resolution amid UN opposition

A year ago, the Bushies probably could have bulldozed this through. But no more. They are losing their juice and clout.

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And I’m sure everyone in them is treated wonderfully too

U.S. Has ‘Secret’ Detention Centers

The United States is holding terrorism suspects in more than two dozen detention centers worldwide and about half of these operate in total secrecy, said a human rights report released on Thursday.

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