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AP File
Edward Avery was to have gone on trial Monday.
A defrocked Philadelphia priest pleaded guilty to sexually molesting an altar boy Thursday, just days before a landmark priest abuse trial was set to start.
Edward Avery, 69, was sentenced to 2½ to 5 years in jail for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and conspiracy to endanger children. He was ordered to surrender in 10 days, according to authorities.
Avery had been scheduled to go on trial Monday.
According to court documents obtained by Philadelphia's NBC10, Avery admitted that in 1999, he "engaged in oral sexual intercourse" with a 10-year-old boy while Avery was a priest at St. Jerome's Parish in northeast Philadelphia. Avery was 57 at the time.
Read this story on Philadelphia's NBC10
Two other church officials will still go on trial. The Rev. James Brennan is also charged with rape. Msgr. William Lynn is accused of endangering children by transferring the two accused priests to new parishes during the 1990s. The 61-year-old Lynn has pleaded not guilty and blames the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua for hiding the problem.
Avery was at the parish despite a credible 1992 complaint that led him to undergo psychological testing at an archdiocesan-run psychiatric hospital, according to a grand jury report. He was pulled from his parish, put on a so-called "health leave" and then reassigned in 1993, the report said.
Avery's accuser said he was passed around by Avery, another priest and his Catholic school teacher in 1998-99.
After Mass, Avery "took the fifth-grader into the sacristy, turned on the music, and ordered him to perform a 'striptease' for him. ... When they were both naked, the priest had the boy sit on his lap and kissed his neck and back, while saying to him that God loved him," the grand jury report alleged. Oral sex and digital penetration followed, the report said.
In the court document for Avery's guilty plea, the prosecutor told the judge:
Avery was aided in his efforts to remain in ministry with unsupervised access to parish children and altar servers by Lynn and others in the Archdiocese.
Defendant Lynn and other Archdiocese officials acted in concert with Avery with a common purpose to conceal Avery's known acts of sexual abuse of a minor ... so that Avery could remain in ministry without the knowledge of parishioners whose children would be exposed to a man that Defendant Lynn and others in the Archdiocese knew presented a danger to children.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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Makes me want to believe in God, and thusly Hell
So, instead of blowing themselves up, the catholic priests rape little boys in the name of 'God'?
The Church and it's organization is the problem not Christ or his massage. And that is any Church, and he warned us about the power brokers, they were the problem then and they are the problems now. Political power, power of wealth or the most dreadful, religious hierarchy, that is the power what is to be relinquished said Christ.
All are Christ's brothers and sisters, none more so than another.
christ is another unprovable, mythical cult creature. people do stupid and heinous things when they digest this cultist rubbish. and, the mainstream in this country is still way too full of hate and violence.
it's all a bunch of goddam nonsense. grow up.
LOL I don't know, "Christ's massage" might be exactly what started this.
:D
Sorry folks, but Jesus's life and death is both factual and provable. The Romans, Muslums and Jewish people all have it documented from those days of yore. You do believe in Rome don't you?
Stonedog; it was actually part of the message he was preaching to warn us about this sort of thing yes. Power corrupts. But this power broker crap started before he got to earth.
Here we go again. There are perverts in ALL areas and ALL religious backgrounds but that fact seems to be ignored by so many hateful rants here. Yes, a small percentage of people went into the priesthood looking for easy prey among our precious children, just like these perverts go into other fields that allow easy access to kids. Have fun making fools of yourselves by writing these silly comments. It may help to be a bit more rational and think before posting.
jones:
It might be "provable" but it sure aint been proven in any useful definition of the word.
Linda M:
Even the current Pope is implicated (sure he should be given a fair trail before hanging), up and down the chain of command the Church has facilitated, protected and covered up for prolific child raping Priests for at least centuries. Do I hate that?--Your God Damned RIGHT I hate it!
As common an affliction to the Catholic Church as pedifilia was and STILL is, very many if not most in the organization had to be at least complicit--turning a blind eye--'they will face God anyway' they rationalize. Of course God will NOT provide justice if they simply worship him (them).
BTW--Any entity that even desires let alone demands with threat of endless torture, to be worshiped is NOT worthy of worship! This whole Christian notion of God is immoral. Time to creat a NEW GOD...or just worship something real like Mother Earth, your family, the potential of humankind, ....
Bernitch: Folks like you were convinced cities like Troy and Jericho never really existed other than in myth. Then archeologists went out and dug them up.
Not a 'priest' nor an 'ex-priest' but a COWARD!
Fuel....yah I'll go ahead and start worshiping humanity....they're a great bunch these days....
As for your "threat of hell" concept? God isn't the type that's feelings have been hurt at your heathonistic ways so that he tosses you into the firey furnance....God simply by his nature cannot be around sin. It's physically impossible (hence why he's not chilling on Park Ave) Hell is a human decision to a human consequence. If you jump off a skyscraper you know it's not going to turn out well for you. It's just the consequence of your choice. If God can literally NOT be around sin, then it's YOUR choice not his that would determine your outcome. He sent His son to die for us so that we could make that choice to be with Him, a true way out. He has no desire to foce anyone to believe or love in Him. That would be a true cruelty. Imagine an unhappy arranged marriage as it were? Wouldn't you rather come to that mutual and loving devotion on your own free will? Don't put hell, or even these pedophiles on God's "rap sheet". These are the choices of imperfect humans. Not Him. God's not any happier about their actions than anyone else. I'm sure he feels betrayed and hurt that these men who were supposed to help people find God have ultimately turned people away and irrevocably hurt others. No doubt if Christ came back he would clean the pulpit before the streets...
Fuel, I loved your comment of Love Me, Worship Me, or Die in Flames(paraphrased) Also, any Priest can go to confession and be magically washed of ALL sins and go straight to Heaven while the boy he molested commits sucide and goes straight to Hell. That's F#ed up. Yeah, I was raised Catholic.
hmd28:
I didn't suggest worshiping humanity per se. But at least we are making some progress in regions where the power of faith has been eroded. Most major crime in the US has been on the decline in recent decades--murder rate half of what it was in 1990 for example. Curious how reduced church attendance coincides with better behavior.
If I put a gun to your head demanding your wallet--You didn't commit suicide by refusing my demand. Same with God and me and hell. BTW, even a pedophile priest doesn't deserve infinite punishment for a finite crime, that is IMMORAL, that is Christian!
Too bad God is so damned incompetent. According to the Bible God spends all his time slaughtering ppl to correct for his previous retarded screw ups. And this notion that one individual can suffer such that all vicious criminals are forgiven?--That is soooo wrong it would be laughable if not so horrific.
Was Santorum ever an Alter boy? Might explain a lot! And what the heck is this (involuntary deviate sexual intercourse) does that mean... the devil made him do it?
that refers to child rape. when a child is involved, since a child can't consent, the child is the non-voluntary victim.
When someones power overcomes and subdues another unjustly, as it most always does, they have lost their free-will and they are oppressed as such.
Often times in turn and inraged with inner anger they build a profound quest for those very powers and desire a grip over another to avenge their own losses.
That might have bearing on his obsession to overpower others free-will through his own self-righteous beliefs.
@Bernitch
Thanks for clearing that up! I thought it somehow was for Avery's involuntary action... all in the wording I guess
yeah, they could have come up with a better title for a statute.
like: Rape of a Child in the First Degree
That pretty much sums it up...
Seriously? Involuntary deviate behavior? INVOLUNTARY?
I hope he becomes many inmates b****h. And even that would be too good for him.
I believe the "involuntary" is legalese meaning that the priest was the "receiver" of the intercourse. It doesn't mean that the perpetrator of the crime (the priest) committed the crime involuntarily. It's simply a legal term, not a description of non-guilt.
The celibacy requirement has always attracted sexual deviants to the priesthood. The rape of children by this horrible cult has been going on for centuries.
the filthy Pedophile Catholic Cult is among the worst of the BuyBull cults.
When they were both naked, the priest had the boy sit on his lap and kissed his neck and back, while saying to him that God loved him
That is @!$%#ing sick
all pedophiles are sick..but i think the corrupt system that covered up for them and gave them free access to more victims is even more sick...they effectively acted as pimps for their deviates...makes me want to retch
Power corrupts.
religion corrupts.
Faith in a none corruptible entity it's self doesn't corrupt, but the power brokers of religion sure have.
Yes it does, because the entire notion that there's a "non-corruptible entity" leads you down a bad path of inappropriate reasoning and decision making.
jones:
Faith is the willful disregard of reason and evidence in favor of comforting beliefs. As such faith is corrupt right from the original concept.
Gross, Sick and unacceptable. That includes the comments that advocate another crime called Rape in prison. Your as sick and twisted as these sexually deviant pedophile Priests.
A sentence of 2-1/2 to 5 years is all this pedophile gets? Wonder how many more children he has abused. He should get life in prison, if our justice system had any backbone. The Catholic Church and its priests have been getting away with ruining the lives of innocent children for centuries. And it continues...
My guess that was the lowest end of the sentencing guideline. And the judge is a life-long Catholic. This crap happens all the time with these sick bastards. It is bad enough with a common pedophile. But when a man of the cloth uses God's name during his rape, I think the maximum should be sentence. No time off. Or better yet, shoot 'em.
Luckily for the church he will still be young enough when he gets out in 2 1/2 years to go back out and preach the Good News. Most likely they will assign him to run a parochial elementary school seein' how he likes working around children. Philadelphia is out, because its filled with those that do not understand how celibacy works, but maybe Boston will have a spot, or Arizona. They have all had their share of sicko preachers there.
Religion is a sick and powerful institution no matter what name it goes by.
crimes were committed by priests and covered-up by the church -- the CC is in serious need of a major reformation. and criminal prosecution.
exactly, the whole foul cult is complicit.
the followers, if they are still sending it money and feeding this foul, filthy machine, they are just as guilty, too.
There are thousands of filthy machines to be disable. But if you have what you need in your heart and mind, you don't need a machine. You take what you have to the machine, not go to the machine to get what the machine wants you to have.
kimb and Kelcy: The "involuntary" part refers to the VICTIM, not the abuser. It is used to distinguish the act from consensual activities that still may be "deviate".
There is a special place in hell for sick people like this who use faith and the "authority" of the church as a tool to facilitate abusing innocent children.
Ditto
God Damn these "priests".. I am very sorry to all victims of these monsters. I am sorry that they represent a farce and mock of my catholic faith. I do assure you that there way more catholics that serve with dignity, humiliation and dedication to help this world as much as possible. I sincerely hope these pedophiles are served justice in this world and the next for what they've done.
it deserves to be mocked! the whole filthy, goddam cult of yours has been covering up for these lowlifes! it's not just the rapists. do you get that yet? can you pull your head out long enough to understand that??
While anyone who knows me knows I could care less about god, religion and all that crap. (I believe in a creator of all, just not the way world religions describe it) That being said I dont think any faith system deserves to be mocked. While the availability heuristic says "we've seen it on the news it must be more prevalent" simply because it's "available" in your mind, doesn't necessarily mean the whole religion is bad. Every religion has it's centuries old customs of sex with kids, killing women, usurping power, etc, etc. EVERY religion has it, and if you think yours doessn't, then read a history book.........
Well, if every goddam cult has it, then each one in that category deserves to be mocked. Especially the ones that STILL DO IT.
Burnish,
Several times now you condemned the entire people of this faith as being all corrupt and complicit with the criminals. How does that make you just?
Do you also mock All School Students and Teachers, All the Kids on the Playgrounds or at the Malls when something happens there? We are all angry about this evil sh*t.
But maybe we should just target our anger to the guilty, not the masses. I know there are many and they each deserve way more than a few years for harming the entire lives of the victims and sadly, in many cases that lasts forever.
Wow, Jones, a rational post. I am shocked, lol!
2.5-5 years for statutory rape? I thought there was supposed to be a penalty for doing bad things.
2 to 5 years is way to lenient for this PIG!
Now I know why he is smiling. Maybe when they stick him in the cell with Bubba and a bar of soap he won't be so smiley.
I don't pretend to understand the evil minds of these ultra religious child rapists--might he enjoy Bubba BFing him? (main consideration would be to Bubba in this case, if it feels good DO IT, do the Priest in the arse! No worries Bub you are only doing justice or, at worst, will BE FORGIVEN.)
Filthy subhuman garbage.
Ok so let me get this right. A guy hacks into Mila Kunis and Scarlett Johanssen computers and nabs some nude photos, leaks them online...... He's getting 60 years and 2 years probation......... This priest along with 2 others who "pass around" this young boy as a sex toy apparently, using his authority to coerce the boy via religion, well he admitted to it so he gets 5 years??!!?? IF THAT?!?! I mean WTF?? How is that even fair or ethical, the world isn't fair, alright, but COME ON!!!
I know. Crazy huh?
In some of the more Red states, someone with an ounce of pot for their personal use will get more jail time than these child-raping priests do...
It's really somethin...
Good ole catholic Santorum wants to get rid of your porn at home, but these child-raping priests inside his catholic cult? Eh, they're not so bad...
Catholics have been brainwashed and conditioned to follow The Church and its priests by generations of family fearing hellfire and damnation if you question anything. The perverts not only KNOW this, they prey on it. Even if one gets caught raping a child, substantial numbers of the flock will refuse to believe the crimes occured, and if it becomes irrifutible that they occured, most Catholics will reason it was an isolated case and that THIER priests have never done such a thing. And the cycle continues. I am so glad that I broke away from their freak show. I was mentally abused and embarrassed by priests, but was never alone with them so that any could have put their hands down my pants.
Mike N I agree with you 100%. I was also born and raised in the catholic church. I stopped going when I was 17, and never regretted it. I worked in a correction facility in the mental health section. Sadly, most molesters get prison time from 2 to 5 years. Those who commited sexual crimes ag
O.pps it posted before I finished the post
Does not suprise me. Unchecked control. But, if you wish to follow someone telling you about invisible people and how you need to conform to his wishes, have at it. Religion has outlived it's purpose. But followers are followers even when it's unquestioned.
especially when it's unquestioned without rationale resolve.
It's purpose is and always was about power, intimidation and getting (as apposed to MAKING) money. It was never 'useful' in any other sense.
I just read that the Mormon Church is going to build a two Billion dollar mall near the downtown temple in SLC. Believe me they do make money and lots of it. They'll get more money by hiring and retaining those who will pledge 10% of their wages to the coffers too. Mean while millions of kids are hungry and the disabled and poor die even with all that wealth and power. Some Christan faith ha ha ha ha.
Their core beliefs which are based on lies and deceit of Christ's teachings, have twisted and changed with the laws of the land just to accommodate their tax free status so much that they actually call the fundamentalist LDS Faiths the off shoots. But it is clear and can not be re-written as much as they try, history proves that the LDS Church based in SLC is really the off shoot of their original faith. (Just like an Etch-a-Sketch, now you see it ...now you don't)
This is a powerful business interprise to make money and keep the souls suppressed ; A man made organization created by man for man and their power and influence is staggering. If you are willing to work for the Church for little or nothing they might feed you. But in their world, there is no free ride. Sound like a business CEO or the teachings of the Christ?
Jones:
It sounds like every church that now or ever existed!
Further--by what standard do you judge Jesus teachings to be more ethical than much of the rest of the bible that advocates murder, genocide, slavery and child sacrifice? No doubt such a standard CANNOT come from the bible itself--so it must come from within or be imposed/taught by modern secular society--Actually it comes from both.
Fuel....seeing how my church and work is The Salvation Army...and GOVERNMENT certified non-profit (yes even in democratic presidentail reign) I'd hate to burst your bubble about the purpose and goal of churches....guess I should tell the 160 somewhat countries we are serving in to shut down all our our schools...orphanges...hospitals...rehabs....homeless shelters...womens abuse centers...after school tutor programs...food pantries...soup kitchens...emergency disaster services...athletic facilities located in the inner city to reach out to low income students...christmas toy assistance programs...car, clothing, and furniture assistance programs...free summer camps for low income children....oh, also our global center to fight and stop sex traffiking??.....yah cause none of these things are useful I suppose...you're right...
that's what Catholics do. Find em, f*ck em, past em on to green pastures. Anybody in a position of trust like that and preys on the young should be beat to death with a baseball bat
Any Corporation would be ruined if they were so complicit in systematic child rape. The entire Catholic Church should be laid to waist for their consistent horrific criminal activities. And there is reason to suspect that this has been going on for many centuries but only recently has this vicious organization failed to intimidate, murder and buy their way clear.
Catholic priests hate for their women parishioners to use contraception.
In "standard Middle and High School Wrestling, there have been "2 famous Wrestling Holds"...
Hold #1. The Half-Nelson
Hold #2. The Full-Nelson
Roman Catholic High School Wrestling had a "Hold all their own"...
Hold #3. The Father Nelson
This scandal motivated me to exit the R.C. Church, not just for the actions of the Priests...
but far more so for the "decades of action and inaction by the church hierarchy" and "who knows who, when, where, why and how so many Priests not only got transferred all over the planet... but more importantly, "How many of those Priests, Bishops, Archbishops and even Cardinals MOVED UP the hierarchy?"
Thankfully, these guys are continuing to get busted and wil likely DIE in prison.
For those "who 'think' they got away with it"... they may be in for some ugly welcome when they "meet their maker!"
Vile inhuman creatures who are destined to DIE miserably.
None of this is new nor unknown.
The pedipriest exchange program is alive and well, hidden.
BTW, those co-conspirators providing financial aide to this longstanding group of pedophiles shall indeed roast in your own special hell.
AMEN!
Just another typical day for the Catholic Church.