I posted about Raymond Lahey, Bishop and paedophile, here. It turns out that his associates (read priests and his superior - the archbishop) knew of his proclivities way back in 1989 right here in Newfoundland when he was a mere priest, and chose to do nothing about it. Along with a collection of child pornography in his home in Mount Pearl at that time, he entertained the boys of Mount Cashel. Yes, those boys. He was promoted to bishop soon after and skipped around to various parishes. As is the wont of the Catholic Church when it rewards its perverts.
As to Roman Polanski, much has been written. I am truly devastated at some of his supporters who have signed the petition urging his release and complete exoneration for child rape and as a fugitive from justice. These supporters I had long admired, but no longer.
Shame on you child rape apologists:
Whoopie Goldberg: (and aren't you glad it wasn't your grandchild this paedophile raped?)Etc.
Pedro Aldomar: No longer will I enjoy your movies.
Woody Allen: Q'uel suprise!
Martin Scorsese: And you the father of daughters!
Tilda Swinton: Tilda Swinton!
David Lynch: Wake up, man!
It is completely disheartening. Lahey, at least, has now been isolated and ordered to have no contact with children or anyone under 18.
The Polanski paedophile, on the other hand, had access to his own vulnerable children for the past 30 years and many others, no doubt.
UPDATE
My friend Laurie at Three Dog Blog provided me with this link to Calvin Trillin at The Nation
and this marvellous poem:
A youthful error? Yes, perhaps.
But he's been punished for this lapse--
For decades exiled from LA
He knows, as he wakes up each day,
He'll miss the movers and the shakers.
He'll never get to see the Lakers.
For just one old and small mischance,
He has to live in Paris, France.
He's suffered slurs and other stuff.
Has he not suffered quite enough?
How can these people get so riled?
He only raped a single child.
Why make him into some Darth Vader
For sodomizing one eighth grader?
This man is brilliant, that's for sure--
Authentically, a film auteur.
He gets awards that are his due.
He knows important people, too--
Important people just like us.
And we know how to make a fuss.
Celebrities would just be fools
To play by little people's rules.
So Roman's banner we unfurl.
He only raped one little girl.
Quite!
ReplyDeleteAnd thinking one step further: These very artists getting their will.
It would be a fine precedent for the paedophiles on this planet, hm?!
Gosh, forgod ... sorry, Freudian slip? ... forgot they and Polanski can already invoke lex vaticana.
It's shocking how many celebs are supporting Polanski and want his actions to be quietly forgotten about. As you say, Tilda Swinton?? The only person we should listen to is the victim, who apparently doesn't want the whole business raked over again and doesn't want him prosecuted. I think we should respect her wishes, though some say ignore her and take him to court anyway.
ReplyDelete@Sean:
ReplyDeleteLex vaticana! good one!
@Nick:
It isn't about the child and never was, apparently, according to the law it is about the crime itself (child rape) and justice being honoured and served on one who was a fugitive.
XO
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We've got a newly elected bishop who had a caravan of nuns - no literally - he kept a caravan in the park of his monstery for entertaining nuns in, and for many years.
ReplyDeleteOn the plus side, at least it wasn't altar boys I suppose.
I haven't read much about this Polanski topic, WWW. There's only so much yukkiness a body can take, and there's a boatload of other blood-pressure raising stuff around just now.
ReplyDeleteI AM surprised at Whoopie Goldberg, the others - not so much, (though I don't know anything about Tilda Swinton).
If the law don't get 'im, let's hope karma does!
this will make you feel better, WWW: my man calvin trillin, in the nation:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thenation.com/doc/20091026/trillin
nicely sarcastic.
oh, wait, here it is as an easy clickable link:
ReplyDeletetrillin poem
thanks Laurie, I will add it to the blog post.
ReplyDeleteXO
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