Priest says another priest sexually molested him

[moobu2]

when he was 15. He says he was forced out of the priesthood for talking about it…..

LA HABRA, Calif. (KABC) -- The sex abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church has another unexpected alleged victim: A former priest who says he was molested as a child by a priest, announced a lawsuit against the alleged offender and a Roman Catholic bishop.
Inside Our Lady of Guadalupe Roman Catholic Church in La Habra is where the acts allegedly occurred.
"You know, he was in his rectory one afternoon, and he had pornography," said Ben Rodriguez, the alleged abuse victim.
Forty-five-year-old Ben Rodriguez was 15 years old then. He accuses Father Gordon J. Pillon of sexually abusing him for several years

<snip>

Ironically, Rodriguez says it was Pillon who led him into the priesthood, where he subsequently served for 16 years in the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois. He says he was forced out after he spoke out about his alleged abuse.
"I love being a priest. I love ministry," said Rodriguez. "I love working with people and I loved helping people, but I always knew deep down inside there was something inside of me that was unresolved."

LINK

[MichiganVote]

1. The gift that keeps on giving...sex abuse by clergy.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. If his alligations are true,

and he was forced out of the priesthood because he spoke out about his own abuse--then the Church has a lot of explaining to do to its members.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. So they don't just cover up the children's abuse ...........

Now they're covering up even when one of those children became one of them.

Ah, wouldn't Christ be proud of all those queens in their fancy dresses, living in their fancy homes, flashing their fancy rings, and enjoying the high life, vows of poverty be damned?

Ever hear of St. Luke's? I had a Jesuit friend who was sent there when his drinking went out of control. That's when I learned all about St. Luke's, which was always kept a big secret.

http://tinyurl.com/dksufp

The suicide problem at St. Luke's is now an even bigger secret, and lots of pedophile priests are immediately stashed there when their sins are discovered. No, don't send them to police, don't turn them in - hide them and pretend they're sick.

Lovely ....................

[Goblinmonger]

4. Most catholic priests don't fit your description.

Most are very dedicated to their profession and are wonderful people that live very true to their vows.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Goblinmonger]

6. Oh, man

Sometimes I don't even know why I try.

I hope all the people who have called me a religion hater are reading my defense of Catholic priests here.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Goblinmonger]

9. Hmmm mmmh

Yep. And all guys in the theatre are gay. And all female golfers are lesbians. And all black people are good athletes. And all Asians are great at math. And all Native Americans are drunks. I get it. You're a bigoted douchebag. What don't you take your little show elsewhere.

[corruptmewithpower]

15. Gay is okay. Those stereotypes you mentioned didn't come out of thin

air, dude.

[Goblinmonger]

20. You didn't say "some priests are gay"

because I would have agreed with you.

I mean, I get it. Does the theatre have a higher percentage of gay males involved in it than the non-theatre population? Yes. Does that mean that you can look at a guy in the theatre and say "He's gay because he's in the theatre"? No. That is bigotry.

Are there gay priests? No shit. Are there probably a higher percentage of gay males in the priesthood than in the non-priesthood? Again, no shit. It is a safe place to go if you are male, gay, and Catholic. Nobody asks why you aren't married. Are all priests gay (which is what you said)? No. That is bigotry.

[corruptmewithpower]

25. I think you are a wee bit over-sensitive. Grow up and compose yourself.

[Goblinmonger]

29. Now you have me intrigued.

Please indicate specifically where I have been over-sensitive. How have I acted immaturely? When have I not been composed (with the exception, maybe, of the two new posts below, but those, too, are relatively tame).

[corruptmewithpower]

31. You are way to eager to play the bigot card. Perhaps you really need

to assasinate the character of another to make yourself feel somehow less pathetic.

[Goblinmonger]

33. You said ALL priests were gay.

And I'm the one that's the bigot. Perhaps you want to look that word up to find out what it means.

[corruptmewithpower]

34. Perhaps i exaggerrated, but only a little.

[54anickel]

13. Sheesh, stereo-type much? Your description of "these fellows on the altar..." certainly earns you a

classification of bigot.

Does it run in the family? Are we only acceptable as fully human when we marry and have "kids"? What's wrong with being gay anyway?

[corruptmewithpower]

14. I like gay folks just fine. Should I not notice the differences?

[Goblinmonger]

19. "I don't hate black people, but...."

Here's a hint for you. If you are going to play the "gay is fine with me" bullshit, you may want to avoid terms like "swish" and "lispy" because that kind of cuts against you. Now, I have many gay friends where me using those terms with them would not be a problem, but it takes awhile to build that level of relationship. You just come out with derogatory words ablazin' and I'm going to call you for what it is.

[corruptmewithpower]

24. I think you are intolerant, self rightious and snippity.

[Goblinmonger]

27. Hello pot?

This is kettle. You're black.

on edit: Is "snippity" even a word?

[Why Syzygy]

40. Observant.

The DU regulars are observant to a fault. We've seen plenty of folks come aboard and use slurs, and we know where they end up. DU graveyard. They also have a way of migrating to either the gun dungeon or R/T.

You DO know this is a board for progressives and liberals ONLY? I've had gay friends and acquaintances since high school (a LONG time ago), and have never once used those words. What's different about these pictures?

[Meshuga]

21. It is hard to believe you

You used "gay" as an insult. It slipped.

[corruptmewithpower]

26. Go blow someone.

[Goblinmonger]

28. Oh, look, another insult using gays.

I think perhaps we made the troll angry.

[corruptmewithpower]

30. You called me a liar. Of course I'm angry.

[Goblinmonger]

32. Neither of us called you a liar.

Meshuga said "it was hard to believe you" and I told you that the use of "swish" and "lispy" were not great words to use if you want to pass off that you didn't use gay as an insult.

You have not addressed either of our arguments but instead went to ad hom attacks. Another sign that you are probably wrong. And lying. But it is up to you to clear all that up.

[corruptmewithpower]

35. Pardon the mistaken identity.

What words should I substitute for swish and lispy?

[Goblinmonger]

37. Don't have specific suggestions,

but using those words that are traditional slams isn't the right way to go.

[Meshuga]

39. There you go again

Don't get mad at me when you're the one digging yourself a deeper hole.

[Dorian Gray]

11. I noticed it

though I don't think I ever called you a religion hater. :)

[Dorian Gray]

10. Wow....

that's so offensive. Not to Catholic priests, but to gay men. You say that as though it's an insult.

[corruptmewithpower]

16. I meant no insult.

[elshiva]

43. Yes, and all female gym teachers are lesbians.

:sarcasm:

[EvolveOrConvolve]

7. I agree with you

I've met some wonderful catholic priests that were extremely interested in my atheism. Some very cool guys.

The problem has been the upper-crust levels of the catholic hierarchy where there are actual people making decisions to hide pedophiles and try to pretend they don't exist in the numbers they do.

[Dorian Gray]

12. Most of the priests

I know would be thrilled to talk with atheists. They are truly interested in learning about other's thought processes, and it would fascinate them to have a theological discussion with you.

Though, of course, there are a few that I've come across who would be dismissive, as well.

[Deep13]

17. How do you know?

Child molesters typically are pillars of the community in every sense except for the child-molester thing. Those who know them and often those who live with them are usually shocked when they discover it.

[Goblinmonger]

18. Because I actually know priests

and don't just base my assumptions as to what ALL priests are based on stereotypes. Not all priests are gay (not that I give a shit if they are). Not all priests are pedophiles. They just aren't. I graduated from a Catholic high school seminary. 4 of my classmates are priests. I probably personally know 100 priests at a social friend level. Probably 25+ were close friends at one time. They just aren't. And it is bigotry to say that they are ALL whatever slam you want to put on them. A couple of the priests I know are douchebags. Most are really good guys who are doing what they do best (I'm a teacher and I do that because I'm really good at it and I like it--very similar in many regards to priests). And they help people.

How is saying "all priests are gay" any different from saying "all blacks love their watermelon and fried chicken"?

[Deep13]

22. I'm not assuming ALL are anything.

I do think child molestation is an institutional problem and not simply a question of bad apples. And I respectfully submit that you don't know what anyone does outside of your presence.

Frankly if one were a pedophile, it is hard to imagine a better job to have than Catholic priest. One would have access to children in a position of respectable authority and can count on the church to shield him from reprocussions. All the while there is a built-in excuse for not have normal relationships with women. So, no, not all of them, but a lot of them.

[Goblinmonger]

23. I understand

We never know. But with your argument, we never know about anyone. I'm saying I know these guys. Really, really know them. Lived with them for 3 years of my life know them. Is it possible. Anything's possible.

And there are plenty of jobs just as good I would imagine. Teaching (my profession) is a good example. Are there some? Yep. Not all of us though. But you never know. 100% of us could be pedophiles.

[Deep13]

36. No, we never know about anyone.

Sadly, this is an under-reported crime and the perpetrators are very, very good at it. A teacher has access to children as do a number of professions and volunteer jobs like scout leader or sports coach do too.

What makes the R.C. priesthood especially susceptible is that the institution itself protects the offenders and clothes them in holiness which most people respect. On the other hand, a suspected teacher would find himself without any friends pretty quickly even if he were innocent. Christianity's attitude about sexuality is pretty disfunctional to say the least. I read something a number of years ago (I forget what, sorry) that noted that a religious man who has a sexual preference he regards as sinful may choose the priesthood because of the celibacy requirement figuring it will help him control his urges. When he realizes that is impossible, he finds himself with easy pickings. The observation was presented as a rebuttal to the notion that celibacy was not the cause of the priest-molestation scandal.

[Goblinmonger]

38. I have no love for the Catholic hierarchy.

But it bothers me when the actions of a few are making the entire profession look bad.

[Dorian Gray]

41. That's why those actions

are so reprehensible. The mistrust of the Catholic Church hierarchy is warranted after the actions in covering up sexual abuse. I think many priests realize that and what to right the situation, while the bishops and people in control of diocesan politics are more interested in preserving the institution and its wealth.

[elshiva]

42. Now that is a homophobic comment.

"Ah, wouldn't Christ be proud of all those queens in their fancy dresses, living in their fancy homes, flashing their fancy rings, and enjoying the high life, vows of poverty be damned?"

"all those queens in fancy dresses" :grr: