Huh?? (Priest Gets 2 Year Jail Sentence)

[kibbles]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080505/world/priest_inmates_assaulted

I blame the site for not having the right wording, etc., because the way it sounds is that the relations were consensual. Don't get me wrong, it was a huge abuse of power; but, if it was consensual all the way around...a two year jail sentence?? :eek:

Like I said, it's probably just not worded clearly; but, the way it sounds from the article..:confused:

[Sylvia727]

It sounds like it's the same principle as forbidding college professors from having relations with their students or forbidding managers from having relations with their employees. With that large of a power imbalance, there are very few ways it could work out in a healthy manner. Also, it sounds like this is a violation of a federal regulation, which means the priest knew the rules and the consequences when he signed up. Let him get his booty somewhere else.

[kibbles]

I agree with that; but, a two year prison sentence? There has to be more to the story than I am seeing, or the wording made it sound consensual when it really wasn't.

[AFPheonix]

He's getting dinged for sexual abuse of his wards. I didn't see in there anywhere where it was consensual, but I might have missed it, too.

[Sylvia727]

Statutory rape is consensual, or at least the victim doesn't protest. It's still rape, because the victim is not in a position to give or withhold consent. An inmate may not be in that position either, or feel that she is not. A year in jail for each woman he had statutory rape/sex with sounds tolerable to me. Without knowing specifics, I can't be more opinionated.

[kibbles]

That's my problem with the article, it's not specific. So I don't want to comment further either because I may be interpreting it all wrong. JMO

[Slytovhand]

Reads to me as 'consented' - otherwise it's rape.

If there was no punishment, or it was a fairly lenient one, then others may be encouraged to try their luck... that's the idea of a 'deterrance'. 2 years (if he even spends that long in there) is, IMO, 'fair' (whatever that means...)

[anriana]

Does he work for the prison or is he a volunteer? "prison chaplain" makes it sound like he works there. If he does, I don't see this as much different than a security guard having sex with an inmate. Is that punished by jail time?

[BlaqueKatt]

a security guard having sex with an inmate. Is that punished by jail time?

usually yes