I've been doing this for 25 years now and have rarely seen such a small but loud bunch of people rallying around a predator priest like those backing Fr. Joseph Jiang in St. Louis.
A now teenaged girl says Jiang abused her a few years ago.
Her parents believe her.
The police believe her.
The prosecutors believe her.
St. Louis' most experienced clergy sex abuse attorney believes her.
Law enforcement officials, in a court filing, say they have hard evidence, including a phone message, a number of text messages and a $20,000 check that Jiang reportedly left for the girl's parents after they confronted him with their suspicions.
And his own archbishop suspends him.
However, the criminal case against Fr. Jiang was dropped for complicated legal reasons.
http://fox2now.com/2013/11/22/judge-throws-out-child-endangerment-charge-against-priest/
But her civil suit is continuing.
Then, two weeks ago, a boy said Jiang abused him.
His parents believe him.
The police believe him.
The prosecutors believe him.
Two counts of sexually abusing a child are filed.
And his own archbishop goes further, yanking Jiang's faculties.
http://archstl.org/commoffice/press-release/2014/statement-regarding-new-allegation
Needless to say, we in SNAP find both sets of allegations credible too.
And I almost forgot. The girl's parents say, in their civil suit, that Jiang admitted his guilt to them and to Archbishop Robert Carlson. Despite being pressed repeatedly, Carlson refuses to confirm or deny that. . .
So perhaps as many as two dozen people believe these two kids (who have likely never met). But some Catholics vociferously proclaim Jiang's innocence. So just one simple question that these Jiang backers refuse to answer: These adults who believe these two children, are they're all deluded or are they all corrupt?