2006-08-10 05:15:57 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Um...read the newspaper - they do get jailed. One of them was just killed by inmates not to long ago.
2006-08-10 05:21:24 · answer #1 · answered by Think.for.your.self 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Good question. Without researching individual cases it's impossible to say for certain why they were resolved this way. And information will be hard to find because details of such settlements are not publicized.
In general terms, I would venture to guess that district attorneys are reluctant (or unable) to bring criminal charges because some of the cases are so old, victim and/or witness testimony is dubious at best, and the Catholic Church spent so many years covering up the crimes.
Edit: Never mind. Jurydoc's answer is more specific.
2006-08-10 05:23:41 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are confusing disposition in the civil courts and disposition in the criminal courts. Paying the victims is usually the result of a civil suit for damages instigated by the victim/survivor. To be jailed requires significant proof of the acts which were often long ago with no witnesses, etc. There is also a signficantly higher burden of proof in the criminal courts vis a vis the civil courts. Therefore, many of the cases are not pursued criminally by the DA.
2006-08-10 05:23:04 · answer #3 · answered by jurydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They might get away with it, in the sense that they are not prosecuted in court and put in prison but in no way do I feel they will "get away with it". I feel that they will receive much harsher judgment from the Creator and God Himself for their actions. That said they get away from earthly judgment due to the fact that the money they pay to the families or victims, not to testify or bring witness against them, leaves the authorities helpless to prosecute them for in order to actually prosecute them and win you have to have evidence and someone that will say this person hurt me. Their earthly time may be spent out of jail and away from punishment but remember God's time is eternal and not measured by human terms and it is His judgment that they should fear the most and it is His (God's) anger that would burn the hottest. Trust me I do not think anyone will get away with anything however a truly repentant sinner, no matter the sin, when washed and truly under Christ blood hides all sins great and small but I doubt many will truly find repentance for their sins for many various reasons.
2006-08-10 05:46:05 · answer #4 · answered by alagk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They barely jail any child molester's now-a-days. Let alone a priest or Michael Jackson.
2006-08-10 05:21:34 · answer #5 · answered by CHRISTINA 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because Rome is too powerful. Each Catholic priest is a dual citizen, one of the country they reside and the other is the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican is a recognized country and therefore they are not always required to extradite.
2006-08-10 05:23:10 · answer #6 · answered by jake_deyo 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Anyone can get away with crimes if no-one presses charges. Several priests have gone to prison for this though, so I think you're over generalizing.
2006-08-10 05:21:37 · answer #7 · answered by lenny 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
One word; Money.
It's what kept Michael Jackson out of prison and it's what kept these priests out of jail too.
The vatican is swimming in trainloads of money. Trust me, it can afford to pay off the victims.
2006-08-10 05:21:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because the Church fights to keep them out. Its really funny too..."He's too old to go to jail! He will be victimized by other inmates!" Uh, didnt he just victimize children? I say an eye for an eye - or in this case, an azzhole for an azzhole - throw the hypocritical little pedophiles to the wolves....
2006-08-10 05:21:23 · answer #9 · answered by YDoncha_Blowme 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋