Catholic Online Forum

Father Polanski Would Go to Jail

THIS CATHOLIC'S VIEW

By Thomas J. Reese, S.J.

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfa ... _jail.html

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Rebecca

I understand. And yet he is a good film maker (sometimes). There are directors on the Vatican Film List who had controversy surrounding their personal lives as well. And if we go back far enough, Da Vinci and Michelangelo weren't exactly shining character studies either.

It doesn't surprise me that the film industry and others (I won't mention France..no need) have taken this stance on Polanski. Hollywood is an ultimate example of secularism. It's about making money. I would expect them to feel this way about the issue.

The Church scandals earlier this decade scarred the church deeply. It hurt its image among both Catholics and non-Catholics as a moral and spiritual voice for the world. Churchmen are supposed to be shepherds held to a higher standard I hope and pray is higher than the culture surrounding it. That's what we as Catholics want and expect from our clergy and that's the way it should be.

Mike

Well, there certainly have been priests who fled the country to avoid prosecution. I don't know if they have received any awards. They seem to mainly fly below the radar.

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

JMJ

I don't know. I would agree more with Fr. Reese if I didn't know that for years he has been a renown, celebrated dissenter from Catholic doctrine, particularly on the issues that are at the core of the ideological infection that had a great part in creating the problem in the Catholic priesthood.

Under his tenure, America magazine ran blasphemous ads with Our Lady wrapped in condoms and consistently attacked John Paul II and the Card. Ratzinger's CDF on every disciplianry measure and teaching aimed at reaffirming priestly identity and the Catholic doctrine of marriage and sexuality. His articles ridiculing the Church's stance on the ordaining of women, celibacy, homosexuality and criteria for admission to holy orders are often cited on the worst secularist - or pseudo-Catholic - media attacking the Church, and he's invariably among those interviewed when a cheap shot at Pope Benedict and the Catholic Faith is needed to spice up a "brilliant" piece on some secularist rag.

The indulgence Tinsel Town and elitists worldwide are showing to Mr. Polanksy is hardly different from what Fr. Reese and his fellow dissenters have shown to all sorts disloyal theologians, clergy and intellectuals over the course of many years.

Besides, I would be careful with the 4% figure about priests being "involved" in abuse. About that many have been accused of child abuse. According to independent studies (e.g.: John Jay College) between 1950 and 2002 4.392 US priest (out of 109.000) have been investigated, yet those actually found guilty as charged have been about 100 (one hundred). Still too many, and greatly helped by decades of betrayal of clear doctrine and discipline, but not 4% of them. After all Fr. Reese has been among those more active in spreading brazen exaggerations of the rate of priests betraying their wows, and particularly of those with homosexual disorders only to blame abuses on the Catholic view of priesthood and sexuality. He is also an obligatory reading for those who belittle those bigoted Catholics who not only agree with the Catechism and the Pope, but also warn of the increasing anti-Christian drive of our culture and legislation.

Therefore, while there is no doubt that Mr. Polansky deserves to pay for what he did, and then some more, the indignation over this from Fr. Reese puzzles me, even though I might agree with him on the overall. As we learned in school about these situations, Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes. I am sorry, but that's what "a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object" leads me to think. If this is the beginning of a real change on his part instead, then I will be second to none in defending Fr. Reese against all enemies of the Bride of Christ.

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FabrizioParty like it's 1773

No one can be at the same time a good Catholic and a true socialist (Pius XI)

Despite Father Reese's record, he makes a good point. Can you imagine Hollywood giving an award to a racist, no matter how good the film? To someone who believe homosexual acts intrinsically disordered? To an anti-Semite? It would never happen.

And if the Church gave an award to a priest who plead GUILTY to sexual contact with someone underage...you'd never hear the end of it.

It really is an excellent illustration of the hypocrisy at work here.

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Jeff Stevens

...there and everywhere!!!

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In Christ,

Jim B

I will consider your position if stated with firm, well-thought-out, quiet reasoning. Hateful diatribe, ad hominem attacks and shouted rhetoric don't impress.

Excerpt of commentary from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights:

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Rebecca

I think that it would depend on the ethnicity of the alleged racist.

While I see much in common between the actions of Polanski and that of the Priests who were convicted. There is one glaring difference. The priests were persons in positions of public trust and moral leadership, Polanski was not.

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Bob C

Bob,
Good point. It really is worse when a priest commits the same crime as someone else. As well as the actual crime, the priest has failed to represent God, has brought the Church into disrepute and likely damaged the faith of many.

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Jayne
"To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbour's thoughts, words and deeds in a favourable way." CCC 2478

It may be worse as far as temporal consequences go, but I doubt that is the cause of the duplicity among Polanski's peers and the media. It's not so much the crime you commit as it is the classification of person who committed it.

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Dean
Most people's sense of history goes back to breakfast time - Benjamin Netanyahu

Dean,
That does seem to be what is motivating the double standard, but I wonder if at some level they are influenced by the knowledge that it is worse for a priest to do such things.

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Jayne
"To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbour's thoughts, words and deeds in a favourable way." CCC 2478

Only if they believe that such behavior is a perversity in the first place. And I'm not convinced that they do believe it. What motivates is whether or not they can get mileage for their own ends out of a scandal, whether it be a good laugh during a "late night" monologue, good revenue from a juicy film, increased readership, or beating down people of faith. Anything that might shine a bright light on their own darkness is to be conveniently ignored.

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Dean
Most people's sense of history goes back to breakfast time - Benjamin Netanyahu

You should hear the people on the radio saying "hey, it was the 1970's, sexual freedom, etc"

The child was 13 years old. He needs to spend the rest of his life in jail.

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-Lou (Louis)

ORA et LABORA
Totus Tuus
Cacciatore/Fungaiolo

So, does everybody agree that whatever standard is applied to celebs and movie directors should also be applied to priests?

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

Well, that would certainly be a step backward, don't you think? Unless you are referring to the standard of adoration society gives to celebs and movie directors and Oprah (who is in a class by herself)...it would be nice if priests were respected and listened to as much.

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Dean
Most people's sense of history goes back to breakfast time - Benjamin Netanyahu

I was talking about the standard they are held to so far as society judging their sins. And I wasn't really serious, but that seemed to be what was being suggested in some previous posts.

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

All,

According to (then) LA Deputy District Attorney David Wells at the time of the trial it was suggested to Polanski's attorneys that Polanski would be deported.

So, do I have this right? You're extraditing him in order that you might deport him?

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James Daly

"It is the Lord." (Jn 21:7)

James,

We are extraditing him (actually nobody consulted me ) in order to try him. I think the penalty would be up to the judge and jury.

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

David,

He has already (in 1977) plead guilty (as the result of a plea bargain). All that remains is to sentence him. It was intended that he be deported, but he fled before sentence could be imposed.

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James Daly

"It is the Lord." (Jn 21:7)

I think he fled because he thought the judge was going to require some prison time and then deport him.

Of course now they can also prosecute him for jumping bail.

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- Joe Kelley

Death is only a shadow across the path to Heaven.

Does this news prove the premise of this thread?

Bishop faces child pornography charges

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

Here is the same story on COL.

Canadian bishop arrested on Charges of Possessing Child Pornography

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

I am reminded of a story I heard many years ago. The director of one of the top USSR research labs returned from a trip abroad. As a high official he was able to bypass the customs line. However, they were trying out some new equipment further down the line and it alarmed on him. He was carrying several pounds of gold.


It was at a time when the government was mellowing. He got to try out some career broadening in Siberia. He was expected back at the lab in a couple of years.

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- Joe Kelley

Death is only a shadow across the path to Heaven.

Well, the Swiss have decided. No extradition for Polanski.

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

David,

The legal reasoning is interesting.



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/movie ... tml?src=mv

I believe Interpol still have a warrant for his arrest.

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James Daly

"It is the Lord." (Jn 21:7)