Rudy Giuliani continues to employ a Roman Catholic priest who has been accused of molesting teen boys, and who was suspended by his bishop because of the accusations. A grand jury found enough evidence to indict Msgr Alan Placa on the abuse charges, but didn't do it because the statute of limitations had expired. And more:
Placa served as a lawyer for the diocese in dealing with allegations of abuse against other priests and, according to the grand jury report, claimed he had saved the church hundreds of thousands of dollars in his handling of possible litigation.Lawyers for alleged victims say Placa would often conduct interviews, in his priest garb, without making it clear he was the church lawyer.
"He was a wolf in sheep's clothing," said Melanie Little, a lawyer for several alleged victims of sexual abuse by other priests in the diocese.
"He was more concerned with protecting the priests, protecting the reputation of the diocese and protecting the church coffers than he was protecting the children," said Little.
According to the Suffolk County grand jury report, "The evidence before the grand jury clearly demonstrates that diocesan officials agreed to engage in conduct that resulted in the prevention, hindrance and delay in the discovery of criminal conduct by priests."
Msgr Placa's official residence is in a Long Island rectory, but Salon reports that he co-owns a half-million dollar Manhattan penthouse apartment with another priest, a longtime friend with whom he has owned numerous properties over the years:
Since the late 1980s, the two men have owned six different properties in New York and Florida in common. From 1991 to 1998, while Riordan was pastor of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Deer Park, N.Y., and Placa was vice chancellor of the diocese, Placa was also priest in residence at Saints Cyril and Methodius. Both men are listed as living at the church rectory in public documents. According to the Official Catholic Directory, Riordan had moved to St. Aloysius in Great Neck as pastor by Jan. 1, 1999; Placa has been listed as priest in residence at St. Aloysius since 1999.
How nice for them. Anyway, I hope that SNAP sends out a boisterous welcoming committee for Rudy Giuliani as he gallivants around the country campaigning.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Subscribe
Oh No! Mayor Giuliani supports the idea that Americans are innocent until proven guilty! How awful!
Give me a break. A "grand jury report" is about as indicative of guilt as is an article on Page Six in the New York Post.
Yecch.
For purely political self-preservation (let alone doing the right thing), why can't Rudy overcome his arrogance and let this guy walk the plank? Or maybe I just answered my own question ...
As someone not the least 'afraid' of Hillary Clinton, I'm noting that the word on the (GOP) political street is that Giuliani is THE man who can beat her. Guess the 'reasoning' is that Rudy has no 'baggage'.
It looks like it will be Rudy and Hillary. These two are not so different as one may think.
I will stay home on election day, barring any 3rd party candidate I like, thereby helping to elect Hillary.
What happens after that is anyones guess. All I know is that the elites have decided she is acceptable as well as Rudy is. All this other stuff is just noise.
I doubt Rudy will be the GOP nominee, but if he is, he won't beat Hillary.
If Hillary is the Democratic nominee, the general election will be MUCH closer than many people now seem to think. The key for a Republican to win in that contest will be to come across to the public as a nice, decent person. An ultracombative character such as Rudy will only generate sympathy for Mrs. Clinton among swing voters and tip the election to her.
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.