Snake Picnic Celebration

[H2O Man]

Some experiences stick with you. Decades later, something triggers the memory, and the old gray cells replay the events in great detail.

Before I worked in mental health, I had been employed with a different agency in another county. I had a case referred to me, involving a 14-year old boy who had been experiencing trouble at home, in school, and in the community. He had come from what appeared to be a good, middle class home. His parents had separated and divorced a couple years earlier, and reading through the case file, I remember thinking that this may have put him "at risk."

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who suspected that his family situation put him at risk. His mother had said that in recent weeks – and those were the weeks where the problem behaviors were noticed – the only person he had a close relationship with was the local Catholic priest. In fact, he was spending more time than usual at the church, where for years he had served as an "alter boy."

Long story short: within 48 hours of my being assigned to the case, the local radio station was reporting that the priest had been arrested for sexually abusing a minor. Then, in a matter of hours, the report was dropped. Not only that, the charges had been dropped. The high-ranking cone heads in Albany had made an under-the-table deal, where the priest accepted being placed in a "retreat" for treatment and prayers. I never had the chance to talk to the mother after this, although my impression from talking to other co-workers was that she was okay with this, as she did not want her family subjected to the "humiliation" associated with the legal process.

I also remember hearing that a year later, that same priest returned for a visit to the community where this happened. Some members of the church held a picnic for him. Many of them were aware of the criminal offense this snake had committed against a minor. But they thought he was such a nice guy, that they held a picnic for him.

The central focus in my telling about this is, of course, that an adult in a position of power/authority used that position to rape a minor. Surrounding that is the strange dynamics that include the legal system, parents, and what pass for "responsible" adults who would hold a picnic in honor of a snake.

Little wonder that kids are "at risk" in our culture.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Yup...celebrate the snake .

Denigrate the child.

That IS fucked up.

K&R, for my outrage...'

[H2O Man]

2. Thanks.

It's sad to see the same thing happening on DU.

[lillypaddle]

6. I'm a "fallen Catholic"

I have so much anger toward the Catholic church and the Vatican over a number of issues: child abuse, birth control, abortion, and others. It's difficult for me to even try to be rational about these things -- I find that I hate "them."

[redqueen]

7. It goes so far past the church though.

There are many here on DU defending a rapist. Again.

There is something really seriously wrong with some people. Not just the criminals themselves, but those who put so much energy into trying to make their actions seem accpetable or tolerable... or so inconsequential that we should just forget about them.

[H2O Man]

8. Right.

There are people who blame the victim, and one who even goes so far as to note that the drugged 13-year old "only" said "no" a few times.

These types of errors in thinking are not restricted to the Catholic church.

[redqueen]

10. There are so many mind-bendingly disturbing excuses posted here.

It's hard not to wonder about the kind of person who could think that way.

[H2O Man]

16. I think that the

explanation of "what type of person" can think that way is unfortunately clear. There are a variety of sick attitudes being expressed .... by a variety of disturbed people.

[redqueen]

17. It seems pretty clear to me.

It's definitely been an eye-opening couple of days on DU.

[reggie the dog]

9. I thought it was only ok to have sex with a 13 or 14 year old

if you were under 16. From what I have been reading here many folks would think it was fine for their 13 year old daughter to have sex with a 40 year old. The same bs is going around France too, particularly on the right wing side of politics. It really makes you wonder about the sexual fantasies people around you are having.

[redqueen]

12. It does make one wonder.

And I find it telling that it's primarily on the right... very telling. Of both those over there and here as well.

[rosesaylavee]

3. To punish the snake

would require people admiting they were wrong in putting their trust in the person and/or the institution. Admiting they were wrong would undermine the security their peace of mind is based upon and that is very threatening. That some cannot risk this even for their own children's safety is very sad.

[madmom]

4. Comparing this to the Polanski case makes one go hmmmm.......

[redqueen]

5. Proud to give you the 5th rec.

[Me.]

11. As Soon As I Read Catholic Priest

I knew where you were going with this. Sad.

[grantcart]

13. People don't have a very clear understanding of what the "law" is.

We objectify these actions so we don't have to consider them 'nice' guys or 'snakes'.


It helps avoid awkward picnics later.

[Me.]

14. Don't Quite Understand What You're Saying Here

[redqueen]

15. I'm with "Me" on this one...

Could you please explain?