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Today's Poll!'Pornography' consequences differ
Friday, March 16, 2012
The Rev. Brendan Doyle remains on indefinite leave, the Jefferson City Catholic Diocese said this week, at least in part because “inappropriate images” found on his personal and Helias High School computers were determined to be “pornographic.”
But, at least for the time being, the diocese said, U.S. Attorney for Western Missouri Beth Phillips and her staff have declined prosecution in Doyle’s case.
Neither Phillips’ office nor Deacon Dan Joyce, the diocesan communications director, have explained their decisions more specifically, leaving some to wonder just what those images on Doyle’s computers showed — and why the church could continue a suspension when the civil authorities didn’t file a charge.
The diocese never has described or released the images.
Doyle’s attorney, Brian Francka, said Thursday morning the priest had no comment.
But, Joyce said in Wednesday’s statement: “Based upon all the information it received, the diocesan review board believed that Fr. Doyle violated the (church’s) ‘Charter (for the Protection of Children and Young People)’ based on downloaded pornographic images that were found on a laptop computer he owned and a school laptop he used.”
The seven-member review board — a priest, deacon, religious sister and four lay members — then recommended that Bishop John R. Gaydos continue Doyle’s suspension and “not return (him) to public ministry at this time,” and Gaydos agreed, Joyce said.
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Comments
muleman 1 year, 2 months ago
Let the man (or woman) without sin cast the first stone. There is no concrete evidence here of wrong doing by Brendan and my respect for the man has not changed.
ctygrl4ever 1 year, 2 months ago
don't have any idea what images they saw and don't really care.....everyone has rules they have to live by with respect to their faith and community....this also includes the people who employ us....if what they found on his computer violated church law (his employer) then they have every right to take action. Why should someone who ignores his own code of conduct as well as that of their employer be given any more sympathy than the comman man. This thing happens in the corpoorate world and people are fired. He was fired. End of story. This is the kind of thing that happens when you allow people uncontested authority and then attempt to hide it when things go terribly, terribly wrong. The atmosphere that has been generated because of all of the sex scandals may have made everyone super sensative to this subject and as such, some may just be caught up in the furror but I say it is better to lose one person than to sacrifice an entire community of children.
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