A man who was a special education aide for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) "already accused of videotaping himself molesting teenage girls in his private basketball program," was charged October 17 with "having sexual contact with four more, including one who says he took her to a local hotel room for a weekend of sex" (LA Daily News). "In all, seven girls, most about 15, [have] told police [the man] had talked dirty, fondled or performed sexual acts on them ... [T]he former Birmingham High assistant football coach faces 14 felony and three misdemeanor charges, and more than 30 years in prison if he's convicted, said Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Alisanne Scolnik."
Yet one place you won't read about this story is in the Los Angeles Times. Do you think if this man were a Catholic priest, the Times would fail to report these new awful allegations against this guy? Of course not. The guy was arrested originally back in June, stemming from charges involving a single girl. Indeed, the Times did report the original arrest. But where's the follow-up?
The Times has never failed to leave any stone unturned in reporting alleged sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. But now it seems there's a different - more lax - standard at the Times in covering sexual abuse by employees of LAUSD.
As we've reported before (see links below), a huge sexual abuse scandal has erupted in LAUSD. Yet as more time passes, the Times just ... seems ... to ... be ... losing ... interest.
Double standard? Yup.
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NB, 9/22/08: Not the Catholic Church? (Part II): L.A. School Sex Abuse Scandal Continues To Grow; Where's the MSM?
NB, 5/19/08: Not the Catholic Church? MSM Mum About Huge L.A. School Sex Abuse Scandal
—Dave Pierre is the creator of TheMediaReport.com and a contributor to NewsBusters.
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Not a priest?
October 27, 2008 - 06:25 ET by motherbeltNot a priest? Ho-hum.
It has been posited that fewer than 2% of Catholic priests have molested.
I wonder what the teacher percentage is in the LAUSD?
The official figure, from
October 27, 2008 - 07:34 ET by hrhThe official figure, from the US Bish Club it's very holier-than-thou self, is that 4% of priests are sexual predators. Considering the extremely low rate of reporting of sexually related crimes (5%-10%), the REAL number is certainly MUCH high.
hrh
Let me correct you on that ...
October 27, 2008 - 09:58 ET by Dave Pierrehrh: "4% of priests are sexual predators."
Hrh, you're simply wrong on that. The 4% number accounts for the number of priests who were accused of abuse. If anything, that number may be a little high, because it is not sure if all existing priests were tabulated. In addition, about 15 - 25% of those priests were deceased at the time of their accusation.
And as far as your claim that the "real number is certainly MUCH high (sic)," that's simply unfounded.
Out of the thousands of
October 27, 2008 - 12:45 ET by hrhOut of the thousands of accusations, the Bish Club-commissioned John Jay report found only a miniscule number to be false. And from the ensuing lawsuits in the succeeding years, the success rate for plaintiffs has been extraordinary, and increasing each year with more and more people learning of the total corruption and perversity in the RCC.
My extrapolation that the REAL number of predatory clergy is MUCH higher is that all crimes by sexual predators are grossly underreported. Ask any judge, cop, attorney, reporter, therapist, rape counselor. Priests, with their privileged, insulated and protected lives (and the bottomless pockets of the Bish Club to ensure all this) most probably have an even higher rate of sexually criminal behavior. How do I know? It comes from reading, talking, investigating, thinking.
hrh
October 27, 2008 - 13:04 ET by cocodrieExtrapolations are useless when based on faulty assumptions. Are you on a crusade against the catholic church? What is your motive?
Which assumptions are
October 27, 2008 - 13:23 ET by hrhWhich assumptions are faulty?
No crusader, just interested in justice for the multitude of children and vulnerable adults murdered (yes, murdered), raped, sodomized, molested, abused by predatory clergy, then enabled, protected, hidden, promoted by miters and red hats, and cowardly DAs concerned more about their re-election than justice..
Motive? See above.
The point here is that if
October 27, 2008 - 13:50 ET by motherbeltThe point here is that if this were, let's say, a "diocesan" problem, with the same number of incidents by priests, instead of public school teachers, the media would be all over it like white on rice.
That's the point. My comment about the number in the LAUSD was just a point of wondering how prevalent it had to be in the public school system to arouse outrage in the media.
I suppose it differs in
October 27, 2008 - 14:40 ET by hrhI suppose it differs in each city, which stories the papers cover, and how each does it. Since the "media" has expanded to phenomenal proportions, one cannot expect to find every outlet covering every story, no matter how newsworthy.
Wasn't the LAT recently bought by a rabid rightwingnut? Don't know what that means to the school system, but for Master Criminal & Pedophile Pimp Roger Mahon(e)y (luckily, a sisterwingnut), it means only another spinctor to kiss and a few more cases of Dom Perignon to avoid negative coverage, which has happened. Stories (the few that there are) that relate to the LA Archdiocese certainly have adopted a friendlier stance. But for accurate information re the ongoing criminal activities of Roger Dodger and his merry band of pedophiles, one must look elsewhere.
There are always letters to the editor expressing exactly what you have here today. And inducing guilt in reporters for not doing their duty. And the more people who do this, the chances of the LAT covering the school system increase dramatically. Heck, you knew that already.
hrh
October 27, 2008 - 16:17 ET by cocodrieThe John Jay Report concerns alleged instances of abuse not proven cases - big difference. The instances have drastically decreased since 1980 not increased as you state. Your rant concerning the clergy is strictly your opinion, not fact, and is therefore worthless. The guilty priests should be doing jail time but this does not give you the right to trash the entire catholic church because of your obvious dislike.
Cocodrie: Please note I
October 27, 2008 - 18:04 ET by hrhCocodrie: Please note I wrote the RATE of successful prosecutions has increased, as time passes and more and more people learn of the total corruption within the institutional church. The numbers may be temporarily down, but don't count on that continuing. Also, while the number of prosecutions has decreased, the amount paid out increased wildly last year. (Wish I could remember exactly how much!)
What I said about the clergy is not a rant, but the simple truth. Don't believe it? Go to www.bishop-accountability.org to read of years of documented obscenities committed by clergy and hierarchy. And to remain current, www.bishop-accountability.org/AbuseTracker. This daily blog covers not only RCC criminal behavior, but other religions as well. (Warning: Have barf bag at ready.)
Nowhere have I trashed the "entire Catholic Church." The Catholic faith is unassailable. It is the institutional church, the multi-national corporation headquartered in Vatican City, that has defiled the true Church, devolving into a corrupt enterprise whose only purpose is to maintain power and a luxury lifestyle.
Used to be, priests were recommended to become bishops because of their pastoral skills. Since JPII, it is now based on the strength of one's total obedience to Papal authority and political leanings. If you doubt that, do some research into the recently released secret document used in Australia to vet priests. Shocking, to put it mildly. http://www.catholica.com.au/breakingnews/024_bn_271008.php This is not an isolated example; a similar document was released in Spain a few years ago.
My "obvious dislike" is much more than that. It is righteous anger at those predatory clergy who have murdered (yes, murdered), sodomized, molested, abused children and vulnerable adults, and their mitered and red hatted enablers, protectors, promoters who now run the institutional church and have turned it into an organized criminal enterprise.
hrh
October 27, 2008 - 18:34 ET by cocodrieAs I said before, your crusade against the church is fueled by your personal opinion and prejudice. The percentage of deviant priests within their group is no different than the percentage of deviant teachers within their group. You have chosen to rant against the church and that is your choice. Enjoy it all your little heart desires.
HA!
December 2, 2008 - 00:04 ET by Dave PierreA "luxury lifestyle"?? LOL.
Just because you see a bishop, cardinal, or pope in a elegant stole or outfit during a Mass doesn't mean they live a "luxury lifestyle" in their daily lives.
With comments like that, you display a lot of ignorance about what it means to be a Catholic and a Catholic priest.
1. hrh: "the Bish
December 1, 2008 - 23:58 ET by Dave Pierre1. hrh: "the Bish Club-commissioned John Jay report found only a miniscule number to be false"
No, it didn't. The John Jay report did not address the validity of any particular cases. You're just making that up.
2. hrh: "the success rate for plaintiffs has been extraordinary"
Compared to the total number of accusations, very few individual cases have actually gone to trial. Many accused priests who vehemently deny any wrongdoing will never get their day in court. (I've written a post on this very topic.) Is that justice? The only thing that's been "extraordinary" is the large monetary settlements for the accusers and their lawyers.
3. hrh: "increasing each year with more and more people learning of the total corruption and perversity in the RCC"
Oh, really? How about a few examples from the past few months then?
4. hrh: "Priests, with their privileged, insulated and protected lives (and the bottomless pockets of the Bish Club to ensure all this) most probably have an even higher rate of sexually criminal behavior. How do I know? It comes from reading, talking, investigating, thinking."
"Reading, talking, investigating, thinking" don't necessarily mean facts. And as far as facts, you've provided none. Your claims are baseless.
with teachers like these, I'd drop out too
October 27, 2008 - 07:05 ET by mom_roxSounds like a story for O'Reilly. This is absolutely disgraceful.
The Axis of Taxes: Obama, Pelosi and Reid (source unknown)
Disgraceful Conduct
October 27, 2008 - 12:50 ET by nofateThe LAT definitely has an agenda. As a non-catholic though, what you are working against, aside from the obvious progressive anti-christian agenda, is the catholic heirarchy's past, i.e. the inquisition, the persecution of Wicliffe, Huguenots etc. They are going to keep slugging you guys over the head with that stuff 'till one of you ends up winning out. My vote is for the catholics because of their consistent affirmation of life. People seem to have difficulty separating the political misdeeds of human beings from the spirit of the teachings. They are after all of us as christians, no matter what type.
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