Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Ether · 06-23-2002, 06:12 PM

Quote:

San Francisco, California. Jack Harrison, a former altar boy, was arrested by authorities today after a Catholic Priest came forward with accusations that he had been sexually abused by the altar boy over a period of several years, beginning when Harrison was just 7 years old. Father Damien Michaels said that the abuse began one day when Michaels called Harrison into his office to enjoy some ice cream and Harrison forced Michaels to put his hands in his pants. "It was awful," recalled Father Michaels, "he made me fondle him."

The abuse continued regularly, and according to Michaels, only ended when the boy moved with his family. "I still have nightmares about it. I thought I'd better to come forth in case there were other victims." Since Michaels stunning accusation, several other Priests have come forward to accuse Harrison of sexual abuse, and Catholic Priests across the country are levelling serious charges of sexual and physical abuse against former altar boys. A Bishop, who wished to remain anonymous was quoted as saying, "these altar boys have violated a scared trust and I pray that the hard-working Priests can find strength in God to help overcome their nightmarish experiences."

One San Francisco Priest says he was abused by as many as three altar boys in his congregation. Since then, the altar boys, now grown men, have been taken into custody by local authorities working with Vatican officials. It is expected that criminal charges will be brought against all.

I think this is really absurd. How could a man be manipulated to do such thing by a child?

[ June 23, 2002: Message edited by: Ether ]</p>

Anunnaki · 06-23-2002, 06:25 PM

This sounds like that letter that turned up during the fiasco in Boston where the church said the children were the seducers.

WTF?

vixstile · 06-23-2002, 06:42 PM

That has to be a joke <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Orestes · 06-23-2002, 06:56 PM

I really hope this isnt serious.

Toto · 06-23-2002, 07:10 PM

I think this is an attempt at satire, along the lines of "<a href="http://www.theonion.com/onion3819/pope_forgives.html" target="_blank">Pope Forgives Molested Children</a>" but the author is not ready to write for the onion.com.

I will ask Ether to either explain, or I will close the thread or transfer it to humor.

Ether · 06-23-2002, 09:29 PM

Toto, I am not sure if it is a joke or not. I found it in another forum and though it would be nice to post it here (it was not in the humor section of that forum either).

It also didn't had any links or sources so I am not sure.

Toto · 06-23-2002, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ether:
<strong>Toto, I am not sure if it is a joke or not. I found it in another forum and though it would be nice to post it here (it was not in the humor section of that forum either).

It also didn't had any links or sources so I am not sure.</strong>

Beware of unattributed stuff on message boards. If it doesn't have a link or a source, (or sometimes even if it does), it might be someone's attempt at satire or creative writing.

In this case, try a search for Jack Harrison with any references to priest or alter boy in you favorite search engine, and you will find nothing.

Besides, the whole thing is improbable, but not in the surrealistic sense that makes for good satire. Child molesters actually do claim that the children seduced them. But everyone in authority knows that is part of their pathology, and is not really funny.

I don't know why you thought it would be nice to post here, or what it has to do with church state separation.

Arrowman · 06-24-2002, 12:09 AM

Toto, Ether - this piece screams satire. Maybe not good satire, but satire nevertheless. Not even a question mark for this one.

Treat not such missives too seriously, lest our theist brethren accuse us of falling for a joke, yea, even as they have quoted seriously from The Onion on, for example, Harry Potter, in the past.

Toto · 06-24-2002, 12:20 AM

I agree. It's a bad attempt at satire that leaves a bad taste in one's mouth. But it evidently confused a few people.

Writer@Large · 06-24-2002, 04:42 AM

I'm closing it. If the numerous grammatical and structural errors in the "report" weren't enough [no news agency capitalizes "Priest"], a search for "Jack Harrison" and "Damien Michaels" on various local (to San Francisco) and national news sites, plus Google, failed to turn up *any* mention of this ... or any other of the "priests leveling accusations against altar boys across the country." This isn't even funny enough to move elsewhere.

--W@L

[ June 24, 2002: Message edited by: Writer@Large ]</p>

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06-23-2002, 06:25 PM	#2
Anunnaki Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: I`ve left and gone away Posts: 699	This sounds like that letter that turned up during the fiasco in Boston where the church said the children were the seducers. WTF?

06-23-2002, 06:42 PM	#3
vixstile Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: California Posts: 2,029	That has to be a joke <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

06-23-2002, 06:56 PM	#4
Orestes Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: California Posts: 349	I really hope this isnt serious.

06-23-2002, 07:10 PM	#5
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I think this is an attempt at satire, along the lines of "<a href="http://www.theonion.com/onion3819/pope_forgives.html" target="_blank">Pope Forgives Molested Children</a>" but the author is not ready to write for the onion.com. I will ask Ether to either explain, or I will close the thread or transfer it to humor.

06-23-2002, 09:29 PM	#6
Ether Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: United States Posts: 70	Toto, I am not sure if it is a joke or not. I found it in another forum and though it would be nice to post it here (it was not in the humor section of that forum either). It also didn't had any links or sources so I am not sure.

06-24-2002, 12:09 AM	#8
Arrowman Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 1,358	Toto, Ether - this piece *screams* satire. Maybe not good satire, but satire nevertheless. Not even a question mark for this one. Treat not such missives too seriously, lest our theist brethren accuse us of falling for a joke, yea, even as they have quoted seriously from The Onion on, for example, Harry Potter, in the past.

06-24-2002, 12:20 AM	#9
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I agree. It's a bad attempt at satire that leaves a bad taste in one's mouth. But it evidently confused a few people.

06-24-2002, 04:42 AM	#10
Writer@Large Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 7,198	I'm closing it. If the numerous grammatical and structural errors in the "report" weren't enough [no news agency capitalizes "Priest"], a search for "Jack Harrison" and "Damien Michaels" on various local (to San Francisco) and national news sites, plus Google, failed to turn up any mention of this ... or any other of the "priests leveling accusations against altar boys across the country." This isn't even funny enough to move elsewhere. --W@L [ June 24, 2002: Message edited by: Writer@Large ]</p>

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