philly.com
01 February 2012
By Jeremy Roebuck, Inquirer Staff Writer
Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina: “Anybody…
The judge in the trial of two Catholic priests and a former priest declared her belief Tuesday that sexual abuse was “widespread” in the Catholic Church.
Reviewing a list of questions to be asked of potential jurors, Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina arrived at one that read “Do you believe child sex abuse is a widespread problem in the Catholic Church?” and hesitated.
“Anybody that doesn’t think there is widespread sexual abuse within the Catholic Church is living on another planet,” she said, recommending the question be stricken from the list.
Jeffrey Lindy, part of a team of lawyers hired by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to represent one of the defendants, Msgr. William J. Lynn, responded: “I’m taken aback by that conclusion, frankly.”
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Philadelphia judge says abuse remains widespread in Catholic Church
CatholicCulture.org
February 01, 2012
The presiding judge in the trial of a Philadelphia archdiocesan official has raised new doubts about her impartiality by claiming that sexual abuse of children remains common in the Catholic Church.”
“Anybody that doesn’t think there is widespread sexual abuse within the Catholic Church is living on another planet,” said Judge Teresa Sarmina during a public hearing for the case against a Philadelphia cleric. A lawyer for the archdiocese admitted that he was “taken aback” by the judge’s blunt statement.
Prosecutors in the Philadelphia case have said that they see the archdiocese as an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the case. Lawyers for the clerics who face criminal charges have sought to draw distinctions between the policies of the archdiocese and the actions of their clients.
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Philly Judge Should Step Down – OpEd
eurasiareview.com
February 1, 2012
Written by: William Donohue
The presiding judge in the trial of two Catholic priests from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia expressed dissatisfaction yesterday with the following question for prospective jurors: “Do you believe child sex abuse is a widespread problem in the Catholic Church?” Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina said, “Anybody that doesn’t think there is widespread sexual abuse within the Catholic Church is living on another planet.”
Judge Sarmina should step down immediately. Her remark, whether based on ignorance or bias, demonstrates her inability to preside over any trial concerning allegations of priestly sexual abuse.
Judge Sarmina’s use of the present tense shows she is unfit to rule. Between 2005 and 2010, the average number of new credible allegations made against over 40,000 priests in the United States was 8.3. How does this compare to other religions? Well, in one borough of New York City, Brooklyn, there have been 85 arrests of Orthodox Jews in the last two years (most of whom are rabbis) for sexually molesting minors. So who has the problem today, Judge Sarmina? Perhaps she should acquaint herself with what is going on in the public schools: as the AP reported in a major investigation in 2007, sexual abuse is rampant.
Almost all the problem with priestly sexual abuse occurred between the mid-1960s and the mid-1980s. In other words, the scandal ended a quarter century ago! Are there news stories of a more recent vintage? Yes, but they are not recent cases. The John Jay College of Criminal Justice report last year said, “The most common time period for allegations reported in 2010 was 1970-1974.” Moreover, as Penn State professor Philip Jenkins said in 2010, “Out of 100,000 priests active in the U.S. in this half-century, a cadre of just 149 individuals—one priest out of every 750—accounted for over a quarter of all the allegations of clergy abuse.” In short, there is no widespread problem today.
My findings are published in the quarterly academic journal, Culture & Civilization, Vol. 4, 2012.
About the author:
William Donohue is the current president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights in the United States, and has held that position since 1993.
William Donahue is busy as ever earning his $400,000+ salary as an apologist for the clerical sex abuse scandal and cover-up.
Does Donahue really and truly believe that the “just” 149 priests identified as molesters “in this half century” is the sum total?
That aside, did Judge M. Teresa Sarmina speak out of turn? I am inclined to think that, barring the William Donahues, there are few if any potential jurors in the States who would answer the question: “Do you believe child sex abuse is a widespread problem in the Catholic Church?” with anything but a ‘yes.’ So where would that leave jury selection with one after the other after the other being turned down by defence because of perceived ‘bias’? and only the William Donahues of the States squeeking onto the jury – and those perceived to be lacking in bias?
What is a judge to do? I’m sure we haven’t heard the end of this.