Italian Priest Accused of Kidnapping Prostitutes

[Fenris]

27 minutes ago

By Phil Stewart

ROME (Reuters) - His defenders in the Catholic Church call it tough love. His critics call it kidnapping.

Priest Cesare Lodeserto, the former head of an Italian foundation that looks after illegal immigrants, has been making front-page news in Italy since he was arrested last weekend over accusations he had mistreated Romanian prostitutes.

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"A few times I behaved like a strict father, but what could I do? These are young girls, easy prey for men looking to fool them," Lodeserto told the magistrate following his case, according to Il Messagero newspaper Wednesday.

The scandal has hit a raw nerve in Roman Catholic Italy, where community leaders have in the past been denounced for using tough tactics while helping the less fortunate. That includes Vincenzo Muccioli, who put drug addicts in chains and condoned beatings to help them kick the habit.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=757&e=8&u=/nm/20050316/od_nm/crime_priest_prostitute_dc

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

1. While prostitution and people smuggling

is a major problem in Europe, some of these tactics make my skin crawl. At the same time, many of these women will simply get killed by their pimps. What's one to do?

This is a very difficult grey issue. On one hand, protecting these young women and girls at whatever cost. On the other hand, going to extreme measures to ensure they do not go back to the cycle of abuse and prostitution.

[HockeyMom]

2. Inquisition

Sounds too much like that when they used to beat them to death to make the devil leave.

[reprobate]

3. And nobody expects the Italian inquisition. Oops sorry, wrong country.