$13 Million Settlement Reached in Sex Abuse Lawsuit
In Nova Scotia, the Roman Catholic diocese reached a historic $13 million settlement with known and alleged victims of sexual abuse by its priests for claims that date back decades. Some of the alleged victims were as young as 8 years old. The diocese was named in a class-action lawsuit last year, along with the Roman Catholic Church, saying they kept the assaults secret and failed to warn or protect children. The lawsuit was brought about by a man whose brother wrote a suicide note in 2002 that led to charges of sex crimes against a priest. The former priest, Hugh Vincent MacDonald, was charged with rape, buggery and indecent assault involving 18 children between the ages of eight and 15.
Pittsburgh Gunman: "Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus"
In Pittsburgh, the crazed gunman who opened fire in a gym and murdered three women before killing himself on Tuesday believed in Jesus and read the Bible. In the final entry of his online journal the day before the shootings, George Sodini, 48, wrote that "maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus". He also possibly rationalized his killing spree with this bit of twisted logic: "Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY paid."
Below is Sodini's final journal entry in its entirety. For more excerpts, visit here.
"August 3, 2009: I took off today, Monday, and tomorrow to practice my routine and make sure it is well polished. I need to work out every detail, there is only one shot. Also I need to be completely immersed into something before I can be successful. I haven't had a drink since Friday at about 2:30. Total effort needed. Tomorrow is the big day.
Unfortunately I talked to my neighbor today, who is very positive and upbeat. I need to remain focused and absorbed COMPLETELY. Last time I tried this, in January, I chickened out. Lets see how this new approach works.
Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY paid. People judge but that does not matter. I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them."
While I'm certainly not implying that Sodini was motivated by his religious beliefs, his actions debunk the commonly-held notion that faith and religion is always a positive force that keeps people in line and provides a source of great comfort. After reading some of Sodini's journal entries, it's clear he was a disturbed and lonely man in need of serious psychological help. It's a shame he didn't have a friend or loved one to turn to instead of a Bible.
Kiddie-Porn Pastor aka The Oldest Emma Watson Fan In the World
In Waco, TX, the 65-year-old former pastor who is on trial for nine counts of possession of child pornographyinsists it was all research for his 10-month personal crusade to cleanse the Internet of child pornography. Investigators found 63 images of kiddie-porn on Henry Elbert Edgington’s work computer and more than 100 images of Emma Watson (!) in a padlocked black box in his bathroom and car. According to Edgington, his ingenious plan involved gathering a bunch of illegal images depicting children in sex acts and then handing them over to his local congressman. Unfortunately, Edgington had a harder time explaining e-mail messages he sent to young girls depicted on some of the Web sites, including one that said: “You are so beautiful. It makes me smile to see your face.” The unflappable Edgington said he sent those to be “sneaky” so they would send him more photos (for his research). And what about those Emma Watson photos? They were for his granddaughter...duh!
Arrests In Murder of Teacher Accused of Proselytizing In Nouakchott, Mauritania, three men have been charged with murder in the slaying of an American teacher and aiding al-Qaida. The men were arrested last month and could face the death penalty if convicted. The teacher, Christopher Ervin Leggett (l.), 39, was accused by the North Africa branch of al-Qaida of trying to convert Muslims to Christianity.
Seattle Archdiocese, Man Settle for $350,000 Over Sex Abuse Claims
No wonder the church is always broke! In Seattle, a man reached a $350,000 settlement with the Seattle Roman Catholic Archdiocese over claims he was abused decades ago by former priest James Knelleken. The man said he was abused as a 16-year-old in 1959 by Knelleken, who was serving as pastor at a local church. Another man who had said he also was abused by Knelleken settled his case in October 2007. The amount of that settlement was not known. Knelleken was removed from ministry in 1988 and defrocked before his well-timed death in 2003.
2 Die While Conducting Muslim Ritual In Mumbai, two young men (ages 22 and 20) who were conducting a Muslim ritual on a beach on Sunday are presumed dead after they were swept into the sea by powerful tidal waves. The ritual that the young men were engaging in involved immersing flowers and food in the water. Police and rescuers are still searching the bodies.
And finally...Goat Sacrifice Now Legal In Texas It's a shitty day to be a goat in Dallas as a federal appeals court ruled in favor of allowing a Santeria priest to sacrifice the animals in his home, saying a city's decision to prohibit the ritual violated the man's religious rights. Jose Merced, 46, accuses the city of Euless, Texas, of trampling on his constitutional right to religious exercise. The city claims the sacrifices jeopardize public health and violate its slaughterhouse and animal cruelty ordinances. Fortunately, the Euless city attorney said he plans to file a motion for a rehearing. Santeria, by the way, is an Afro-Cuban religion where members get to chat with dead relatives and deities, kill animals and play a drum.
In Sudan, police fired tear gas at supports of Lubna Ahmed Hussein, the defiant former UN worker who faces up to 40 lashes in public for the "crime" of wearing pants -- or "indecent clothing" as its called in the wacko world of Sharia law. Scores of women protested outside the court, some holding up banners saying "No return to the dark ages". Riot police soon came on the scene and fired tear gas into the crowd to break them up. In the meantime, Hussein's case has been delayed for a month after the judge said he needed to verify if she was immune from prosecution because of her former position at the UN.
200 Arrested in Anti-Christian Violence In Islamabad, Pakistan, about 200 people have been arrested in connection with Saturday's anti-Christian riot/arson in Gojra that left seven people dead, 20 injured and a Christian neighborhood up in flames. Police said Muslims were protesting an alleged desecration of pages in the Quran at a Christian wedding.
Rip-Off Rabbi Pleads Guilty to $8.5 Million Tax Scam In Los Angeles, a Brooklyn rabbi pleaded guilty to an $8.5 million tax scam that involved charities run by the Spinka Hasidic sect. Grand Rabbi Naftali Tzi Weisz, 61, admitted conspiring to solicit donations that were mostly kicked back to the contributors. The scheme allowed the "donors" to take tax deductions for the full amounts of their phony gifts -- while skimming nearly $750,000. He faces up to five years behind bars.
Rabbi-on-the-Run Arrested in Israel In Israel, a former Chicago rabbi involved in a scam that allegedly used the stolen IDs of inmates to file for tax refunds was arrested on Sunday night. Marvin Berkowitz, 62, and nine of his family members and associates have been indicted in connection with the tax-fraud ring. Berkowitz and company used the stolen identities to submit fraudulent documents seeking $35 million and caused $4 million in refunds to be issued to bank accounts it controlled. Berkowitz's two sons and his son-in-law are also facing conspiracy and fraud charges.
Jury Selected for Kiddie Porn Pastor Trial
In Waco, TX, a jury of seven men and five women were selected to hear the case against Henry Elbert Edgington, 65, a former pastor who is accused of 10 counts of possession of child pornography. His attorney is using the ole "research" excuse, claiming that Edgington had the porn for “bona fide educational, medical, psychological, psychiatric, judicial or law enforcement or legislative purposes.” Prior to his arrest, Edgington apparently told church members of his crusade to rid the internet of child pornography.
Bishop Warns Priest: Back off from fraud investigation or you will live with nuns! In Connecticut, a former priest claims a bishop threatened to send him to live with nuns after he hired a private investigator to look into his pastor. The pastor, Rev. Michael Jude Fay, pleaded guilty to a fraud charge and was sentenced in 2007 to three years in prison for stealing more than $1 million from a local church.
And finally...Exorcist Priest Look-A-Like Pleads Not Guilty In Online Sex-Sting
The St. Louis priest who was caught in an online sex sting has pleaded not guilty. Rev. James P. Grady (l.), 57, was arrested Wednesday after allegedly agreeing to pay $80 for oral sex from a 16-year-old girl. I would love to hear this bozo's excuse for showing up at an under aged girl's home in the middle of the night. Perhaps the committed clergyman was there to cast out demons? After all, Grady does bear an uncanny resemblance to Jason Miller (r.) from The Exorcist. Hmmm...
Muslim Mob Burns Down Christian Neighborhood In Gojra, Pakistan, hundreds of angry, gun-totin' Muslims entered a Christian neighborhood and started burning down homes. Officials say the attack was incited by a radical Islamist group, who were responding to rumors that some Christians had desecrated a Quran. When all was said and done, eight Christians were dead -- six dying in the fires and two by gunshot-- because there were rumors that some folks destroyed A BOOK.
Devil Told Teen to Kill Parents In Australia, the trial is under way for a 16-year-old Satanist who allegedly plotted to kill his parents, two school friends and then himself -- because the Devil told him to. On March 25, 2008, the teen killed his father with a 23cm (about 9 inches) knife and repeatedly stabbed his mother. According to the prosecutor, the teen tried to kill his mother because he felt she "deserved it and he hoped she would be a better person in the afterlife."
Suspect in Daniel Pearl Murder Arrested In Islamabad, Pakistan, police have arrested a man that was suspected of involvement in the 2002 beheading of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. The suspect, Rao Shakir, is a purported member of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a banned Sunni Muslim militant group linked to both the Taliban and al-Qaida. The group has been blamed for killing scores of minority Shiites across Pakistan while its members have been accused of attacks against Westerners.
Cops Dress Up Like Muslim Women For a Day In the UK, a police exercise which involved female officers spending a day dressed in full Muslim dress has been derided as "a complete waste of time". The charade, which involved two sergeants and a community support officer dressed in full-body Muslim garb and another officer in Muslim dress and head scarf, was part of a diversity training program aimed at helping officers learn more about Islam and the issues affecting Muslim women. Critics of the dress-up day, are understandably angry and bewildered, "'After this are they planning to dress as members of other communities such as Hindus and Buddhists? Because if I was a member of one of those communities, and they had been dressing up as Muslims, I would be asking why not us?"
And finally...It's Hard Out There For a Christian Rapper In Florida, Christian rapper Illyte (l.), was sentenced to two years in prison for two counts of corruption by threat of public servant. The rhymer's (who's real name is Antavio Johnson) charges stem from a song called “Kill Me a Cop” that was posted on Johnson's Myspace page earlier this year. The ditty includes such Jesus-inspired lyrics as "Call me crazy but I think I fell in love with the sound of hearing the dispatcher saying, 'Officer Down.”
Dropping Babies From Rooftops = Health and Prosperity, Apparently In New Delhi, activists lashed out at local officials who allowed hundreds of infants to be dropped from the roof of a mosque in the belief that the fall — which ends when the babies are caught in a bedsheet — would ensure good health and prosperity for their families. This bizarre and dangerous ritual has been practiced for nearly 700 years at a local Muslim shrine, with both Hindus and Muslims engaging in this nutty behavior. At a ritual on Thursday, infants were dangled from the roof of the shrine before being dropped about 50 feet onto a bedsheet held by parents and other believers. Fortunately there were no reports of injuries.
Former Police Chaplain Arrested For Sexual Assault In St. Cloud, Minn., an 82-year-old former police chaplain was arrested for sexually assaulting a minor. Police say Pastor Arthur Ree, sexually assaulted a female minor over an 18-month period from 2000 to 2001. Responding to the arrest, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which Ree was a member, released the following statement:
“The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Southwestern Minnesota Synod is shocked and deeply saddened by the arrest of art ree on charges of criminal sexual behavior involveing a female victim. Ree is a retired pastor of the ELCA. Charges of this nature are very serious and even more disturbing when they involve the life of the church. The Southwestern Minnesota Synod does not tolerate sexual exploitation or abuse in any way. Our synod and congregation are and should remain always safe places for all people. We offer prayers for the victim of the abuse and her family and friends. We also offer our prayers for Mr. Ree and his family. Situations like these bring deep pain and sadness to many people. Our comfort rests with God who is with us At all times we pray that God’s care, concern, healing and wisdom may be experienced by all who have been affected.”
This statement is much longer than it needs to be. "Offering" prayers and making throwaway statements about God's love ring very empty when an innocent child has been violated by a disgusting old pervert. Where was God's "care, concern, healing and wisdom" when Ree was having his filthy ways with his victim? I just can't believe the audacity of the religious mind sometimes.
Pastor Accused of Sexual Abuse In Louisville, a pastor has been placed on leave after a man alleged that the priest sexually abused him in 1985. In quite an unprecedented move, The Record, a Catholic newspaper, listed Schook's previous parish assignments and asked that any alleged victims of abuse from those parishes contact the archdiocese. The Archdiocese of Louisville was at the center of a massive sexual abuse scandal in 2002 and 2003. Nearly $30 million was paid out in settlements by the archdiocese after more than 250 people made abuse allegations. More then three dozen priests and other church workers were accused of abusing children as far back as the late 1940s.
Priest Busted in Sex Sting In St. Louis, a Catholic priest was arrested in an FBI sex sting targeting men who wanted to rent young girl for sex. According to the police, James Patrick Grady (r.), 57, showed up at the home of what he thought to be a 16-year-old girl, who he offered to pay for sex. On Wednesday, Grady had responded to an online ad offering young females and started exchanging emails with an undercover officer. Eventually, Grady asked the "girl" for a massage but was refused so he then inexplicably propositioned her for kissing and oral sex. (Perhaps he thought that would be less degrading for the girl.) After he was arrested, Grady said he came to the house because he was "curious". Where the hell is Chris Hansen when you need him?
And finally...Pantless Sex Cult Leader Jailed For Blasphemy A kinky sex cult leader in Jakarta who performed sermons in his underwear was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for blasphemy against Islam. Agus Noro (l.) aka Agus Imam Solihin, meaning "leader of the faithful," would demand his Muslim followers to perform group sex in front of him and banned them from praying and fasting -- I'm gonna guess it was the latter two injunctions that got Noro into the real trouble. While prosecutors demanded a four year sentence for the pantless preacher, the judge cut him some slack because Noro withdrew an earlier statement where he claimed to be God. So at least he's not crazy.
"Devil" Mom Ate Parts of Baby In San Antonio, more grisly details are emerging from the violent murder of an infant by her mother who claims the devil told her to do it. In addition to decapitating and tearing off 3 1/2 week old Wesley Buchholz-Sanchez's (l.) face and chewing off three of his toes, it is also being reported that Otty Sanchez (l.), 33, ate parts of her son's brain. She is believed to have killed him with a steak knife and two swords.
Pastor with a Past Charged With Sexual Assault In Charleston, South Carolina, a pastor with an existing rap sheet has been charged with a sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy. The incident is believed to have taken place last year while the boy was attending a baby shower (!) at the home of the accused, Ronald Jones, 53. Jones, an associate pastor at the New Jerusalem AME Church, has a shady past that includes multiple convictions for breach of trust and writing fraudulent checks. Jones' was the second pastor arrested this week with a prior criminal history.
Predatory Pastor Sentenced to 30 Years For Molesting Two Boys Meanwhile, elsewhere in Charleston, South Carolina, another pastor was sentenced to 30 years in prison for fondling two boys. Tyrone Moore, 42, was found guilty of molesting the 12 and 13-year-old boys multiple times between 2004 and 2006. But the troubles don't end there for the pedophilic pastor, authorities say Moore is also under investigation for eight other cases between 2002 and 2006. Additionally, Moore is on the state's sex offender registry for a 1991 conviction on two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child between ages 11 and 14. He also was convicted in 1989 of committing a lewd act on a child under 16. When he wasn't busy fondling young children, Moore was a pastor at the Full Word Ministries. And Finally... And Sarah Palin Thought She Had It Rough! In Afghanistan, female political hopefuls risk danger to themselves and their families by simply running for office. In the August 20 election, two women are running for president and 328 female candidates are vying for seats on the country's 34 provincial councils. Thanks to Afghanistan's devout Islamic society, female candidates often face death threats, various forms of humiliation (i.e. being called prostitutes) and violent intimidation. One former candidate recalls militants kidnapping, beating and threatening to kill her husband in order to dissuade her from running for a second term.
Parents of Dead Girl: Sickness was a test of faith In Wisconsin, the mother of an 11-year-old girl who died of undiagnosed diabetes as the family prayed for her to get better testified that she believes sickness is caused by sin and can be cured by God. Leilani Neumann (l.), who was convicted of second-degree reckless homicide in her daughter's death, told the jury in her husband's trial that she thought her daughter's illness was a test of her religious faith and she didn't take the girl to a doctor. Neumann's husband, Dale, who is described as a "full-Gospel Christian" by his lawyer, also considered his daughter's illness "a test of his faith".
Woman Facing 40 Lashes for Wearing Trousers In Sudan, a woman facing 40 lashes for wearing trousers in public made her first appearance today in a court packed with supporters, in what her lawyer described as a test case in Sudan's decency laws. In an act of defiance, Lubna Hussein (r.), a former journalist who works for the UN, attended the hearing wearing the same green slacks that got her arrested for immodest dress. Hussein is using her case to campaign against dress codes sporadically imposed in the capital.
Father Held in Brutal Honor Killing of Daughter In the Gaza Strip, a man is being held on suspicion he bludgeoned his daughter to death with an iron chain in an honor killing. Apparently the assault was triggered by the Jawdat Najjar's discovery that his 27-year-old daughter (a divorced mother of five) owned a cell phone, which he suspected she used to speak to a man outside the family. Najjar is believed to have beat her with an iron chain, while also kicking and punching her for about 40 minutes until she died of a fatal blow to the head.
Christian Wrestling Coach Sues Muslim Principal And finally...in Michigan, a former high school wrestling coach who is Christian filed a lawsuit against Dearborn Public Schools and a high school principal who is Muslim, saying he was terminated because of his association with an assistant (who also turns out to be a pastor) who had helped convert a Muslim student to Christianity.
Jihadist-American Family Arrested In North Carolina, seven men conspiring to wage jihad overseas were arrested by federal authorities yesterday. According to a seven-count federal indictment, the men --which include a father and his two sons-- intended to provide material support to terrorists and to murder, kidnap, maim and injure people overseas. Perhaps most surprising is that the father and suspected ringleader, Daniel Patrick Boyd (left) --who called himself Saifullah, or Sword of God-- is an American. Boyd and his cohorts are believed to have hatched their plot in 2006 and raised donations to support their training. They also recruited and radicalized others -- "mostly young Muslims or converts to Islam, to believe . . . the idea that violent jihad was a personal obligation on the part of every good Muslim." 80 Die in Sharia Law Attacks In Africa, Muslim rebels demanding the adoption of sharia law expanded their attack against Nigerian security forces to two northeastern states, with at least 80 people dead in two days of violence. The leader of the rebel group Boko Haram, opposes Western education and demands the adoption of sharia law in all Nigeria, has threatened further attacks.
Muhammad's Angels: Muslim Police Officers Issued Uniform Headscarves In England, the UK's largest police force has started to issue a uniform hijab to its female Muslim officers to wear when they enter a mosque. The headscarves are embroidered with the name and logo of the force and come in two colors. If you think this is yet another concession by the British government to the Islamists trying to impose their values on western society, you would be absolutely 100% wrong -- at least according to a police spokeswoman. She insisted that the hijabs were not intended to purely cater to Muslim cultural sensibilities but were multi-faith. If you believe that, the spokeswoman also wants to know if you'd be interested in purchasing the Brooklyn Bridge.
3 Killed as Muslim-Buddhist Violence Continues to Escalate in Thailand In Thailand, a Buddhist couple and a Muslim man were shot dead in gun and bomb attacks by suspected militants. The incidents took place in one of three rebellious Malay Muslim provinces where nearly 3,500 people have been killed in violence since 2004.
Monk Goes Bonkers In Korea, a 47-year-old Buddhist monk was apprehended for allegedly beating a female adherant to death with a bottle. His reason? "I was chiding her for meeting a man,'' the monk was quoted as saying.
Transgender Woman Dies While In Care of Voodoo Priest In New Jersey, a male-to-female transgender woman died while visiting a voodoo priest for "spiritual cleansing". While the priest, Houngan Hector Salva (right), is not suspected in the woman's death, he said the untimely demise was "God's choice...I don't have no say in when God deems your turn." Apparently, the grammar-challenged Salva has followers from all around the world.
The Devil Made Her Do It: Mother Dismembers Infant Son In Texas, a woman who brutally dismembered her 3 1/2-week-old son told police that the devil made her do it. Relatives say that Otty Sanchez (left), 33, was diagnosed with schizophrenia and postpartum psychosis. She told detectives she had been hearing voices in the week leading up to her son's murder.
Priest Facing Child Sex Charges In Australia, a Catholic priest appeared in court to face charges of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl 30 years ago. Last month, the 64-year-old priest was charged with two counts of indecent treatment of a child.
Superbad: Naughty Priest Suspected of Tryst with Nun, Exaggerating Miracle Claims and Mysticism And finally...a well-known priest in Bosnia has left the priesthood after being investigated by the Vatican on allegations that he was guilty of sexual immorality with a nun and exaggerating stories of the Virgin Mary's appearance (I would love to know how the Vatican determined that). Unsatisfied with just a pair of salacious sins, Father Tomislay Vlasic completes his hellbound hat-trick by being under formal investigation for alleged "dubious doctrine, the manipulation of consciences, suspect mysticism and disobedience".Based on the allegations and evidence, I wouldn't be surprised if Vlasic turns out to be a goddamned warlock.
For the record, I'm an unbeliever when it comes to God -- in any form. The purpose of this site is to document (and occasionally mock) the senseless acts carried out in the name of God/religion/superstition and the misdeeds of the so-called faithful.
$13 Million Settlement Reached in Sex Abuse Lawsuit
