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	Religious Pedophiles Go Free By Michelle Malsbury American Chronicle July 19, 2007 http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=32565 Los Angeles (CA) — Religion can mean differing things to different people, but two common threads appear to be key factors. The role religion has in any individuals life supposed to help them to feel better about themselves or perhaps more empowered than going it alone. Secondly, religion uses the fear factor in helping to keep people in line. Regardless of what people say, fear about not getting into heaven, fear about going to hell, fear about not meeting up with 40 virgins, or whatever ones religion is about in the end can and does modify how one acts or reacts to a variety of situations that life dolls out. I am not a religious person, but feel compelled to speak out about the recent settlement that I regard as payoffs or hush monies by the Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church and their insurers in Los Angeles, California to hundreds of persons who have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of those entrusted with providing moral and ethical instruction in the name of religion. These priests preyed upon young unsuspecting children and imposed their sexual deviations upon them and remain free to continue to do so. If these priests had not the benefit of hiding behind their religions they would be in jail locked far away from the impressionable minds they have abused with their sexual misdoings. On July 15, 2007 the AP reported via Fox News that the Roman Catholic Diocese in Los Angeles, California had come to a settlement for the 508 cases against their priests in their most recent sexual abuse scandal. The amount of the settlement was touted to be the highest ever at $660 million dollars. Some 40% of that settlement will go to pay the attorneys fees. This is not the first of such settlements and most likely will not be the last. Part of this settlement is that the Roman Catholic Church is supposed to hand over documents from their priests that many are hopeful may provide insight or information about possible cover-ups for these abusive priests. The Archdiocese in Orange County, California paid out $100 Million dollars for sex abuse allegations in 2004. In December of 2006 the Los Angeles Archdiocese paid $60 Million Dollars to 45 people with claims against their priests for sexual abuse. Many of these persons coming forward in these and other abuse cases date back to 1950. Since 1950 the Roman Catholic Church has paid out more than $2 Billion dollars to quiet the discontent and smooth over those persons who have been abused by their priests. Nearly 25% of that $2 Billion dollars has come from Los Angeles, California. The judge has also opened the door to possible punitive damages for the plaintiffs in these cases which could also prove to be costly for the Roman Catholic Church. Five Roman Catholic Church's have filed for bankruptcy protection in order that they might circumvent the system. Those five are; Tuscan, AZ: Spokane, WA: Portland, OR: Davenport, IA: and San Diego, CA. In my opinion this does not negate their culpability in such cases. From the web site www.answers.com I provide the following definition for sexual abuse; sexual abuse n. 1.The forcing of unwanted sexual activity by one person on another, as by the use of threats or coercion. 2.Sexual activity that is deemed improper or harmful, as between an adult and a minor or with a person of diminished mental capacity. Sexual abuse can manifest itself in many ways. Some of the symptoms of such are listed below. 1. depression 2. suicidal 3. avoidance of all things sexual 4. sleep disorders or nightmares 5. seductiveness 6. refusal to go to church or school 7. aggressive behavior, conduct problems, or delinquency Many of the people who have been sexually abused wear those scars for life. The people responsible for abusing these children should be punished and never allowed near children for the remainder of their lives. The monies garnered from these cases do not begin to mitigate the damages these priests have done on those lives they sexually abused. I sincerely hope that I am not the only one who smells a lot of hypocrisy in religious institutions and the double standards they set for their religious leaders. Reference: www.answers.com Article by Harsh Nevatia on November 30, 2006 titled The purpose of religion posted on the web site www.hinduism.suite101.com www.kuro5hin.org Article from the AP dated July 15, 2007 titled Catholic Church Settles Los Angeles Sex Abuse Cases for $660 Million posted on the web site www.FoxNews.com
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