Senator Lindsey Graham: “I’m not going to ruin the Catholic Church over this.”
FOTP News in review for … September 23, 2018
Investigating reports that Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, former archbishop of Washington, D.C., and other leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania covered up child sexual abuse by more than 300 priests over a period of 70 years — McCarrick, himself, is charged with engaging in such acts, as well persuading victims not to report the abuse and law enforcement not to investigate it — Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said on “Fox News Sunday” that he will listen to the complaints of those against the cardinal and the diocese, but won’t change his mind about whether to recommend criminal charges.
He won’t.
Graham: And here’s what I told my colleagues, this accusation has to be looked at in terms of our legal system. It’s too old for criminal trial, it’s 36 years old. You couldn’t bring a civil suit because you can’t tell the court what time it happened and where it happened.
Graham went on to say that charges of abuse, involving young children in the church, are always tough to prove, but even if a few are true, others such accusations aren’t or are never reported.
In the end, it all balances out.
I was a prosecutor, defense attorney and a judge. For every child that comes forward regarding the allegation like this, God only knows how many never come forward. Also know that sometimes people are accused of things they didn’t do.
Another member of the committee, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, who has never met the alleged victims, called them “confused” and told ksl.com that the children may also have just made an error in identification, even though he doesn’t know if thats true.
The senator said he thinks they are “mistaken.” I think these kids, whoever they are, are mixed up. They’re mistaken something that I don’t know. I don’t know them.” Asked if he believes McCarrick, Hatch responded, “I sure do.”
The sexual abuse in the Catholic Catholic Church surfaced more 15 years ago, in Boston in 2002, but even after paying billions of dollars in settlements and adding new prevention programs, the church has been dogged by a scandal that is now reaching its highest ranks, leading to this one.
Nevertheless, the GOP seems to be siding with the church. Senator Dean Heller of Nevada called the “allegations” a little hiccup; California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher called it “Orwellian”; and Senate Majority Leader told a Christian group to ignore the political chatter of the so-called allegations and to stay strong.
“In the very near future, the Catholic Church will be back where it’s always been in our society. McConnell said to applause from religious conservatives at the Value Voters Summit Friday. “So my friends, keep the faith, don’t get rattled by all of this. We’re going to plow right through it and do our job
Graham got defensive when Chris Wallace asked about the perception that the committee, generally, and the senator, specifically, was downplaying the seriousness of the charges against the church in its abuse of children, but Graham pushed back saying he, like Hatch, is not inclined, in the case of McCarrick, to wipe out a lifetime of good word over a couple of allegations.
Graham: What am I supposed to do? Go ahead and ruin this guy’s life based on an accusation — I don’t know when it happened, I don’t know where it happened … I’m just being honest.
The church, in an earlier investigation into one of its priests, tried to run out the clock.
Literally.
In a case involving Reverend Charles J. Chatt of Pittsburgh, one in which Chatt admitted to sexual contact but never felt it was “wrong” or felt like he was “a whore for doing so,” maintained he had a “sexual weakness” for the “promiscuity of adolescent boys. When he went to the church for guidance on a legal strategy, it assured Gates there was no need for concern.
The victim’s allegation was “time barred” and no legal action could take place.
The GOP, generally, and Graham, specifically, seem, as well, to be hoping for a similar outcome.
Bring it forward, I will listen, but I’m not going to play a game here and tell you this will wipe out his entire life because if nothing changes, it won’t with me.
Nevertheless, Graham said the Judiciary Committee has bent over backwards to accommodate the victim.
Graham: We are not going to turn over to the other side how many witnesses to call. There will be two witnesses, McCarrick and the one kid, the girl.”
On Friday, across the street from the senate, a handful of church supporters gathered, holding signs that read, “Priests will be priests,” “These are good honorable men,” “There was no penetration,” and “Where were the parents?”
Graham assured Wallace the child in question will be treated fairly and even if we will not be giving her the benefit of the doubt.
Graham: She will be treated fairly. I hope she comes, I will listen if she does.
Wallace tried again to state the seriousness of these charges, most notably that legally, regardless of the dates and times of the alleged offenses, these crimes can still be prosecuted.
WALLACE: I just want to point out is a fact and I want to move on because we are running out of time, that there is no statute of limitations on sex assault cases in Maryland. So, there are weaknesses with the case obviously, but the abused could legally bring it.
Graham wasn’t worried about that scenario.
GRAHAM: Well, it would go nowhere.
(Poe’s Law: “Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody anymore that won’t be mistaken for the real thing)
