Agudath Israel's Strange Bedfellow: Catholic Church Blackmails Politicians Who Support Anti-Abuse Bill

Catholic Church threatens to close churches in districts of politicians who support the Markey Bill and then blame those closings on the politicians.

MOLEST-BILL POLS CATCH HOLY HELL
BULLY-PULPIT BISHOP: NIX VICTIMS OR I NIX CHURCHES
By REUVEN BLAU and BRAD HAMILTON, NY Post,, May 31, 2009

Thou shalt not blackmail.

Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio threatened state lawmakers by vowing to close churches in their districts -- and blame them for the closures -- if they dared support a bill making it easier for people who were sexually assaulted as kids to sue, legislators told The Post.

They said the dark warning came during a "legislative breakfast" at DiMarzio's Brooklyn residence, as he told the gathering of about 20 state and city politicians that he would retaliate against Albany lawmakers if they backed the Child Victims Act.

The controversial bill -- which could be heading for an Assembly floor debate as soon as June 8 -- seeks to extend the statute of limitations for lawsuits involving the rape or molesting of youngsters. It could cost the Church hundreds of millions in payouts to victimized parishioners.

Two lawmakers said the bishop brazenly bullied them during the coffee-and-doughnuts gathering at his stately brick residence in Clinton Hill on Oct. 21.

"He said, 'If it passes, we will close a parish in each of your districts and we will tell your constituents that it was your fault,' " said one Assembly member who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

"I was shocked," he said. "I've never seen a threat like that made at any lobby meeting."

A senator who asked not to be identified said: "The hair on the back of my head stood up. In my years of Catholic schooling, we were never taught to be so vindictive, and here's my bishop saying, 'I'll close a church in your district.' "

A City Council member said: "He brought up this bill, and he went on a tirade about it, saying, 'We'll have to close churches, and you'll be the ones responsible for it. It will be your fault.'

"He basically threatened the room. I was appalled."

The author of the legislation, Queens Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, did not attend the breakfast, but she said lawmakers who were there told her about DiMarzio's remarks.

"People take offense at that," she said. "Legislators do not want to be threatened by anyone. You don't close parishes just because a state legislator votes on a particular bill."

The assemblyman who spoke to The Post said DiMarzio's ploy backfired -- the lawmaker was so put off that he signed on to Markey's measure as a co-sponsor.

"Her bill was not on my radar screen, but the obnoxiousness of his threat made me take a look at it," he said.

DiMarzio, 64, is the leader of the Brooklyn Diocese, which oversees 1.6 million Catholics at 198 parishes and schools in Brooklyn and Queens.

He has spearheaded an intense lobbying effort against the bill, which would give new hope to hundreds whose civil claims that they were sexually abused by priests or educators were tossed out because they were filed too late.

Currently, alleged victims can file suit when they turn 18 but not after age 23. The bill would extend that window to age 28.

It would also suspend all limits for one year, allowing anyone whose claim was previously dismissed on statute-of-limitations grounds to relaunch the lawsuit.

It was unclear exactly how many people might be affected, but in 2006, the state Court of Appeals tossed out a $300 million suit by 42 litigants against 24 priests in the Brooklyn Diocese because the plaintiffs waited too long to file.

The bishop's spokesman emphatically denied that DiMarzio threatened the lawmakers.

"There's no question about it being blackmail," the Rev. Kieran Harrington said. "If the legislators are saying there's a threat involved, they're trying to create a story where there is no story. We're dealing with an anti-Catholic bias that's pervading the New York state Assembly."

DiMarzio was merely pointing out to the pols that the diocese would be financially devastated if the bill becomes law, he said.

"The consequences for our community would be profound," Harrington said.

DiMarzio also took the fight directly to Markey, a five-term incumbent, when she was up for re-election last November, actively campaigning for her opponent, Republican challenger Anthony Nunziato.

"There was literature calling me anti-Catholic," said Markey, a Catholic whose three adult children all attended Catholic schools.

DiMarzio last month turned to Congressman Joseph Crowley, the Queens Democratic Party chair, asking him to put pressure on Markey over the bill, according to a high-level Assembly source.

Crowley angrily rebuffed him, the source said.

"Crowley in effect told the bishop, 'You're a paper tiger. You went against her and failed.' He told the bishop there was nothing he could do," the source said.

But Crowley denied that the exchange took place.

"I have not had a conversation with the bishop since last year," he said.

Markey's camp criticizes the bishop for engaging in bare-knuckle politics.

"Aside from the separation of church and state, there's an unseemly quality of getting involved at this level," said one of her aides, who asked not to be quoted by name.

Additional reporting by Fredric U. Dicker, David Seifman and Angela Montefinise

It makes one wonder what Satmar and Agudath Israel have done, doesn't it? If I were a betting man, I'd bet it it is at least as bad as the Church's blackmail.

[Hat Tip: Yochanan Lavie.]

Comments

[steve]

Just call them the Axis of Evil.

[Hometown Postville]

Wouldn't you call this(many lawsuits with potential to bankrupt the diocese) the consequence of sweeping the problem under the rug years earlier? Nobody was willing to embarrass the church by exposing the perpetrators so instead, hundreds, maybe thousands of children were demoralized for life. Closing numerous parishes(ex. Michigan, lack of new priests, priests jumping ship to become non-celibate(ex. Florida), financial ruin from immoral behavior(Markey bill)= big changes ahead for the future of the Catholic church.

[Successful Messiah]

"It makes one wonder what Satmar and Agudath Israel have done, doesn't it? If I were a betting man, I'd bet it it is at least as bad as the Church's blackmail."

Actually, it doesn't make me wonder at all. What it does, is make it clear that you are a racist and a bigot. The article makes no reference to Agudah or Satmar yet you turn this into an unfounded accusation against Agudah and Satmar.

[a reader]

check out the photographs of a recent trip of some lubavitch yeshiva boys to postville. the pictures clearly show sholom rubashkin with a 'yechi' yarmulke.
looks like the O.U. was certifying a 'mishichist' all along.

http://chabad.info/index.php?url=article_en&id=14937

[Just a Goy]

Is there any question to why I left Catholicism?

(see all aforementioned)

[MisterApikoros]

Successful Messiah, the article didn't have to make reference to Agudah and Satmar because those frumbags made similar threats, although in their case if they closed up shop entirely in NY State it would be a mitzvah.

I could always buy my camera gear at J&R. What's more, they take orders on Saturday.

[FirstGenerationBavarianAmerican]

The NY Post published an updated version of the story on their web site. The article is titled: "Bishop is Defiant on Threats":
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06012009/news/regionalnews/bishop_is_defiant_on_threats_171910.htm

The last sentence of the article:
"DiMarzio said he would not apologize for his position -- or his style. "I threaten everybody," the bishop said, laughing. "I can't help it. It's the position.""

Maybe DiMarzio would do the right thing and tell his flock what percentage of the prists in his diocese are gay.

[Jim the Catholic]

Go Bishop DiMarzio!!!!! You Rule!

Meanwhile there are still Public School teachers sexually abusing children

http://markshea.blogspot.com/2009/06/if-only-teachers-could-marry-if-only.html

& the Markey bill STILL EXEMPTS Public school teachers from the same penalties as clergy who abuse children.

Go Bishop DiMarzio! The man is my hero!

[Shmarya]

I see Jim has slunk back over to lay some more slime.

Process:

Public school kids have far more protections now than religious school kids have.

Markey will help level that playing field.

The atrocities that happened in dozens of CATHOLIC schools couldn't happen with the same rate of frequency in public schools because public schools have protections already in place.

As for that thug you call your religious leader, there is a concept you and he should try to wrap your small minds around – RICO.

May it be used soon to put mafioso like your bishop (and like the rabbis of Agudath Israel who covered for and enabled abuse) where they truly belong.

After they get out of prison, they all meet down in Hell for some very hot coffee.

[Jim the Catholic]

>Public school kids have far more protections now than religious school kids have.

I reply: No they don't since Priests have no Unions to protect them if they are accused of molesting. Unlike teachers. Many teachers have stayed in the classrooms while they where being investigated. Priests are removed imediatly.

I have documentation.

>Markey will help level that playing field.

I reply: Rather it will drive pedophiles into the public school because they have better protection. Like that ex-Priest who became an assistent principle I cited from the Maggie Gallagar article in the past (& you where too much of a coward to answer me).

>The atrocities that happened in dozens of CATHOLIC schools couldn't happen with the same rate of frequency in public schools because public schools have protections already in place.

I reply: The protections are meaningless with the Unions involved. Priests don't have a union.

>As for that thug you call your religious leader, there is a concept you and he should try to wrap your small minds around – RICO.

I reply: That has been tried in the past & in EVERY case it has failed the Supreme Court ruled on it. So it sucks for you & the Pedophiles in the public schools you & mARKEY WANT TO SHIELD at all costs.

>May it be used soon to put mafioso like your bishop (and like the rabbis of Agudath Israel who covered for and enabled abuse) where they truly belong.

I reply: You will have to do better then that hypocrite.

>After they get out of prison, they all meet down in Hell for some very hot coffee.

I reply: You no doubt will make it.

[Jim the Catholic]

Should NY Discriminate Against Sex Abuse Victims?
Maggie Gallagher
Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Michael O'Herlihy used to be a Catholic priest.

He was accused of abusing one of his students around 1980, at a time when he taught at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx. In 1993 he was defrocked. In 2002 his name was included on a list of priests accused of sexual abuse that the Archdiocese of New York gave to Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau.

And, yet, where is Michael O'Herlihy today?

He is an assistant principal at a public high school -- Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day High School.

Should public school teachers receive special protection from sex abuse charges?

A new bill pushed in New York (similar legislation has been introduced in other states) has two remarkable features: 1) It removes the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits against sex abusers at schools and charities for one year, and 2) it exempts public schools.

Removing the statute of limitations means that people who believe they were victimized as children can reach back 30 years or 40 years or more and sue not only individuals (likely dead or poor), but the institutions that hired these individuals. A flood of new litigation based on ancient cases, by victims who never came forward before, will make it difficult to defend against false claims (or honest claims by disturbed people) because so many of the people involved are dead.

Sex abuse of children is a horrifying crime. So is punishing people for crimes that did not occur. We have a statute of limitations for a reason. Even rape victims are not typically allowed to come forward 30 or 40 or 50 years later because determining justice after so much time has passed is too hard.

I don't mind crucifying the abusers, whatever their religion. But in this case permitting lawyers to collect vast sums from nonprofits is not going to punish the abusers. It's going to punish, even potentially shut down, students, teachers and parents at religious schools and other faith communities who never did anything wrong. Schools and churches are not businesses. Their expenses are paid by people using them now. The people who will pay for this flood of litigation are mostly those who had no control over what happened 30 years ago.

Sex abuse survivors say that justice requires taking this drastic step and running this risk. And I'm willing to entertain that idea because sex abuse of children is appalling.

But if justice requires this drastic step, we need justice for all victims, not just victims who happen to have been abused by nonprofits.

Why are public schools being protected? It's not because sex abuse by public school teachers is rare. In just the last few weeks, for example:

Robert Becker Jr., 36, a substitute teacher at Franklin Central School in Delaware County, N.Y., pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Becker has been employed by the government on several occasions, not only as a teacher but as a corrections officer.

In Orange County, Calif., El Modena High School band teacher Carlie Attebury faced eight felony counts stemming from charges of having sex with her students.

Then there is Daniel Acker, 61, the swim coach at Frank Lloyd Wright Middle School in West Allis, Wis., who was arrested on felony sexual assault charges stemming from a 2005 incident with a 15-year-old boy.

But significantly, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "A man in his 40s had told police that day that Acker sexually assaulted him from 1971 to 1976, when he was from 11 to 15 years old. Since then, at least three other men in their 40s -- including one who lives in Tennessee -- and a 19-year-old man have told police they had been sexually assaulted by Acker when they were minors."

Under laws like those being pushed in the New York Legislature, victims like these will be discriminated against. Why?

Are we talking justice for victims, or is this political payback time for religious institutions alone?

Copyright © 2009 Salem Web Network. All Rights Reserved.

DO NOT SUPPORT the lie that the Markey bill protects children. IT CLEARLY DOESN'T

I'd like to challenge anti-religious fanatics like Shmarya & steve to explain to me HOW the Markey bill is going to stop the likes of Michael O'Herlihy?

Well?

[Shmarya]

I reply: That has been tried in the past & in EVERY case it has failed the Supreme Court ruled on it. So it sucks for you & the Pedophiles in the public schools you & mARKEY WANT TO SHIELD at all costs.

What a sick evil prick you are, Jimbo.

I can't wait until Markey passes, and the evil men you shill for get hauled before a jury.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Jim: As soon as a public school teacher is accused, no matter how flimsy or how credible the accusation s/he is removed immediately to a so-called rubber room. S/he is not allowed contact with children until and unless his/her name is cleared.

Unlike Shmarya, I like you. But you mischaracterize how seriously the public system takes abuses. Not out of goodness of heart, but for political reasons. And in NYC, Catholic lay teachers are unionized.

[Shmarya]

RE: Should NY Discriminate Against Sex Abuse Victims?
Maggie Gallagher

It's simple, Jimbo.

1. Public school teachers go through MANDATORY background checks. Religious school teachers do not.

2. Public schools do not transfer sex abusers to the next school district. Religious schools do.

3. Public schools do not have a 80 year history of sex abuse coverups system wide. Religious schools do.

4. Religious schools did not demand to be included in bills mandating background checks. There were no calls for "fairness" and "equality" from the evil men you call bishops (and I call rabbis) when mandatory background checks became law.

In fact, your priests and my rabbis OPPOSED those background checks for religious schools.

You're a sick apologist for evil men. May you rot with them for all eternity.

[Jim the Catholic]

>1. Public school teachers go through MANDATORY background checks. Religious school teachers do not.

I reply: Untrue the policy of the USCCB is very clear.

>2. Public schools do not transfer sex abusers to the next school district. Religious schools do.

I reply: Clearly you need to read the links I posted above. Public schools HAVE transfered abusive teachers. The USCCB's policy forbits said transfers.

>3. Public schools do not have a 80 year history of sex abuse coverups system wide. Religious schools do.

I reply: Yes they do. The studies I have cited in the past prove that is a lie.

>4. Religious schools did not demand to be included in bills mandating background checks.

I reply: They don't need too. The policy of the USCCB binds them & mandates it.

>There were no calls for "fairness" and "equality" from the evil men you call bishops (and I call rabbis) when mandatory background checks became law.

I reply:??????? English please?

>In fact, your priests and my rabbis OPPOSED those background checks for religious schools.

I reply: Rather they opposed the state having automatic access to their privite records. The constitution STILL gives us a right to privacy in our documents.

>You're a sick apologist for evil men. May you rot with them for all eternity.

I reply: Rather you are a closet Atheist & self hating Jew & a rank hypocrite.

[Shmarya]

Asshole. The Church has already lost millions of dollars in court judgments and settlements for doing the thing you claim it doesn't d, or not doing the good things you say it does.

You forget that LAWSUITS forced th Church to correct problems that went on for generations and destroyed hundreds of children.

Rot in hell.

[Jim the Catholic]

>Unlike Shmarya, I like you. But you mischaracterize how seriously the public system takes abuses. Not out of goodness of heart, but for political reasons. And in NYC, Catholic lay teachers are unionized.

I reply: I would admit maybe your Particular School is like that BUT nation wide the links I provided above tell a different story.

To quote one of the comentators
"There was an incident in San Jose, were a teacher was kept in the classroom (with union support) even though the school knew of an incident(s)involving the teacher. It took some time before the teacher was removed.

In the East Bay, the police failed to act on a report of past sexual contact and a teacher kept in the classroom for three years as it was determined by the authorities that the "statue of limitations" had passed. Said teacher was only removed after the media got a hold of the story, so "powers that be" knew of a situation yet covered it up.

Districts nationwide have been sued for letting go of teachers for their misbehavior, yet then offering letters of recommendation for other teaching jobs.

Church leaders are very guilty for letting the scandal go on and on, yet it seems such sordid responses can be the natural tendency for other bureacracies as well.END QUOTE

Shmarya's is the apologist for the indefensible. Not I.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/10/nyregion/10teacher.html

[Yochanan Lavie]

Jim: There is no such thing as an idiosyncratic policy in an NYC school. It is a city-wide deal. Unless you're in a charter, everything in NYC is top down.

[Just a Goy]

Jim the Catholic,

You're defending in indefeasible with church, yutz. You're blinded by your own beliefs... Perhaps you'll open you eyes one day. Until then, kindly gayn cacken ofn yam!

[Jim the Catholic]

>There is no such thing as an idiosyncratic policy in an NYC school.

I reply: Then how did Michael O'Herlihy get a job?

[Yochanan Lavie]

I don't know O'Herlihy. Bad actors slip through the cracks, but there is zero tolerance for molestors in the NYC schools. That's as it should be, except for the part where liars get a free pass. The hostility of the media and the public towards teachers is so demoralizing that I often wish I knew another way I could make a living. Every profession has its rogues.

[Jim Catholic]

Yochanan,

There is zero tolerance in the policies handed down by the USCCB. Why then are Catholics being singled out while Public schools are given a pass?

As for a hostile media, you are talking to a Catholic here. ANGELS & DEMONS & the DIVINCH CODE etc are not about public school teachers dude.

[Jim Catholic]

>Asshole. The Church has already lost millions of dollars in court judgments and settlements for doing the thing you claim it doesn't d, or not doing the good things you say it does.

I reply: Since when have I calmed the Church has never made mistakes in the past or enabled child molesters? I missed that part.

I simply don't think it's just to punish Catholics TODAY for something that might have happened 50 years ago BUT give the public schools AS PASS for the same thing.

>You forget that LAWSUITS forced th Church to correct problems that went on for generations and destroyed hundreds of children.

I reply: You just contradicted yourself champ. You just ADMITED teh Church has corrected it's problems.

What about your claim they where still moving Priest around?

>Rot in hell.

I reply: You lost this argument dude. Not I'm off to play FALLOUT 3. I'll think of you guy when I'm attacked by RAD Roaches.

[Shmarya]

You lost this argument dude.

I did not.

Process: The Church enabled molesters for many years. LAWSUITS forced the Church to stop doing that.

That does not mean that victims do not a have a right to bring their cases – especially when it is not at all clear all molesters have been removed from their jobs by the Church.

The same holds true for haredi schools – except that have never taken the steps the Church was forced to take.

Markey will make that happen.

The last thing a Catholic should be doing is standing in the way of child sexual abuse victims.

If someone was raped by a priest the Church knew to be a molester, the Church should pay – even if that rape took place 50 years ago.

As I wrote earlier, I hope your Bishop rots in jail and after that in hell. You too.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Jim: There are no movies about bad teachers, but the sensationalist press tlaks about them (as well they should, to an extent) and villifies the teacher's union as omnipotent (it's not). Movies portray teachers as unrealistic saints. I am sick of it all.