Trial by judge

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Sylvia
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It’s done.  The New to the Site page is up and running and functional again.  A link has been added to access allpre-01 August 2010 links.

I have also posted a media update on the Monsignor Robert Borne proceedings:  

 16 September 2010: Court process continues 

Borne’s judicial pre-trial is scheduled to continue 07 October 2010. 

Borne has apparently opted for trial by judge alone.   

Is it just my imagination or do a lot of priests standing trial on sex abuse charges in Canada choose to fore go a trial by jury?   (Contrary I believe to popular opinion trial without jury is not a constitutional right in Canada http://www.bastionlaw.ca/-jury01.asp.  My understanding in the past has been that the Crown must agree to proceed with a  trial by judge alone. )

Anyway, back to work

Enough for now

Sylvia

(contact me at cornwall@theinquiry.ca)

This entry was posted in Accused or charged, Canada, Clerical sexual predators, Scandal, Trials and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to Trial by judge

  1. Larry Green says:
    September 22, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    I don’t know for sure, but I wouldn’t be afraid to bet that records would reveal that it is statistically probable for judges to error on the side of priests and jurys on the side of the victim.It sure would be interesting to know.

  2. Larry Green says:
    September 22, 2010 at 11:40 pm

    I find it disturbing to see the wide spread division within the catholic church as a result of all the molestation and cover up. What I find even more frightening is the fact that there are those on one end of the divisive pole who are making attempts to hold the flock together by casting the blame to outside forces. Among this group there are laity, bishops and even the pope. They warn us to be aware of those who want to destroy the church. It,s as though the fanatics are being given the green light to emerge and to incite hate and upheavel not only within but also outside the church as well. Right at a time when from my perspective the church is increasingly loosing its influence on humanity it is out of anxiety becoming more and more an ideology. This whole thing I believe has become an extremeley dangerous mix brewing quickly. I dont like to sound so fatalistic and I sure hope I am totally wromg but my intuitive sense about these things recieves indications from many different sources.

  3. Sylvia says:
    September 23, 2010 at 1:28 am

    I think you’re right Larry – I think juries are probably more inclined to understand the plight of the victim, but, that is simply my thought. I csn tell you that I am always disappointed to see a sex absue trial go to trial by judge alone.

    As for divisions in the Church because of molestation and cover-up, there is of course a battle. Those who are outraged by clerical molesters in the priesthood want to see these men out of the priesthood. Those who see molesters as victims are battling to keep them in. The battle will wage on until the priesthood is purged of predatory priests and those in authority take to heart the words of St. Alphonsus di Liguori:

    The unchaste priest dishonours the church, and therefore the Lord justly chastises him by making him the most dishonoured of all men

    and those of St.Matthew 17:27

    but he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.

    I believe that good eventually conquers Larry. It will happen. I wouldn’t waste my time doing this if I thought there was no hope.

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