I don't know what you are thinking Heather, but it is possible to sexually assault anyone. Gender and age don't matter.

Heather is correct, an adult, specially a male can defend himself, Ann. So I don't know what you are thinking.

Mar King, not all men can protect themselves since you may notice that not all people are evenly balanced in strength, intellect, courage, knowledge, or any other quality. Even if they could, that doesn't mean that another adult could not touch them inappropriately or abuse them. The fact is that you cannot control the actions of others.

Also, just because you can defend yourself, doesn't mean that you should or will. When presented with a situation you are unprepared for, sometimes you don't react the way you would expect. The fact that you could defend yourself means nothing when you consider that it is the other person acting inappropriately. Just as you could defend yourself, the offender could chose to not break the law. By saying that the victim could have defended themselves, you are in effect blaming the victim. Would you blame someone who was robbed at gunpoint while walking home for not choosing to take the (safer) bus? No, that's ridiculous.

By your logic, if you were a good driver who had been driving for a long time, you would never get into an accident. You might not, but all it takes is one really bad driver to swerve into your lane or stop short and you'd be in trouble.

I'm definitely not saying that Father Luis is guilty. I don't really know anything about him. What I'm saying is that you need to reevaluate your thought processes.

JTL1013 - have you reported this abuse to the Fairfax County Police? It doesn't matter how long it has been, you MUST report it officially. There weren't any diocesan regulations on how to deal/report, but it must be reported now - official policy. But you need to step forward and report this.

JTL 1013 - where you molested after you reported this to the principle? The teacher finished the year, but was not hire. Wonder why? JTL1013 - In situations like this people don't always know what to do or how to handle it. I was a St B's for 30 years and never saw anything inappropriate. You think that in public school they would of protected you better? Maybe, maybe not. If anything it was the teacher and nun who did not do what they should have done. You could have taken it further to the Parish and to the diocese. But you did not, you must of had your reasons. People maybe did not believe you. You could be telling the truth. Again unfortunate.
It was not the church that failed you but a person (nun) in the church, big difference.
In your case the teacher was guilty. In father Franco's the accuser is an adult male 29. You were 8, you were too little to defend yourself. In this case the accuser is not. Situation is not comparable. It is sad that you are happy over the damage done to the parish. What about your parents where were they to protect you if the nun failed???? I wonder? To generalize does not resolve you problem.

Do you think all instances of sexual assault are reported?
I've compiled some links with statistics and information if you would like to find out more:
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/on-men/2008/09/08/the-silent-phenomenon-of-male-sexual-abuse
http://www.rvap.org/_docs/pdf_documents/sexual%20assault%20statistics.pdf
http://www.rainn.org/get-information/types-of-sexual-assault/male-sexual-assault
http://www.rainn.org/statistics

I agree with you Heather in that this accusation seems very suspicious...the truth will eventually come to light though

Heather:
I really could care less if you believe me or not. I am telling the truth and there were 5 other female students who were also molested at the same time by the same teacher who can verify my story. The teachers name was Gary Nuhn and he was convicted a few years later of molesting a female student at another school.

SHAME SHAME SHAME on you! Your type of person is the reason why VICTIMS of sexual abuse are scared to come forward and report the abuse. I can only wish that you could experience sexual abuse first hand as just punishment for being a jerk. I would love the opportunity to meet you face to face and wipe that smug look off your disgusting self rightous face myself. I can only hope that Jesus thinks your an ass.

Heather,
In most cases of molestation, it is hard for and eight year old to tell anyone. And if the child does tell someone and not believed or heard, they will not try again. It seems that you don't know what you are talking about when it comes to being molested. Perhaps before you open your mouth to something you don't know about you should keep it shut and don't say anything at all or find out what victims have experienced. Ignorance is not bliss when the information is out there for you to find out.

Has anyone notice that there are no children involved in this story? What does all this other stuff have to do with this??

Luc I have been sexually harassed in four jobs. I was fired or let go in one occasion because my boss the president of the company did not get his way. I was let go my the company in the other cases because the company did not want complaining you complaining. This goes on incorporate America more often then it does in any church, sweetheart. In my last harassment I reported because I was completing harassment training which, get this states "that if you do not report sexual harassment you can get fired or... what ever. So I reported it the company appeared to take my side. Better yet the accused admitted to what he had said and was subject to training to avoid it in the future. Three months later in my review my supervisor brought up the issue. I reminded him of a situation that a cured in front of him and he remembered and recognized the inappropriate behaviors. I was let go after my review.
But I resent your generalizing because the sickness that you mention is not exclusive of any church. I am nondenominational but raised catholic. I see the faults of the church, catholic or other. I also see all the good the church has done, and is doing. There are many priests and nuns out there helping others and giving there lives for humanity. When I was in the catholic church and as a child I met many priests and nuns that were wonderful loving people. Not one molested on was inappropriate. It was unfortunate that you where molested. Not all are like that.

I actually agree with you too. It just irritates me when people assume that only young children or women could be the victims of sexual abuse or that everything that happens is reported at once. It felt to me that Heather was reacting purely emotionally and not assessing the situation from an objective point of view.

This case seems very weak and I don't know nearly enough about any of the parties to take one side over another. I'm the type of person who would rather see a guilty man go free than an innocent man in prison, so I really hope that the truth prevails, whatever that may be.

Actually Ed I do agree with you. The only issue I was taking up was to defend Ann for stating a fact. It very well could be a setup. I also felt it was very childish of Heather to tell Ann that she needs help for her anger issues. No one should throw stones at someone stating facts. I hope the truth comes out whatever it may be,

CD no one is being jury. People are stating their knowledge of the priest. People who know him. This person is 29 years old and a male. If another male touched inappropriately would you smack the guy or wait 9 months to report it??? One more thing CD. The accuser is afraid, do you see his face or name anywhere??? But he is selling his story and making good money. No we should't speculate know the priest. You on the other hand do. I guess you are the only one with right here.

You also wonder what happened to separation of church and state. I guess it works in one direction. The church should not influence the people in matters of state. However, the state can interfere for something so ridiculous. Specially when you consider so many other more serious issues taking place.

I also know Father Luis. One of the nicest, sweetest, most sincere people I have ever met. I don't believe this for a moment. None of it makes sense.

Father Luis is being taken care of by the diocese and was just removed from St. Bernadette, in my opinion to avoid any annoying questions to father himself. He is saying mass and all.

Maria - this church I am concluding you are referring to the Catholic Church, because St. Bernardette's church has never had pedophiles. It has not cut father Franco loose it has removed them from alleged scene of the crime, but he is in the diocese. He is in good care. It is nice to hear your concern.

Dear MarieS,
The Catholic Church's policy when something like this happens, whether it is to an adult or a child, is to remove the priest from his ministry and not allow him to say mass or hear confessions. This is for the simply reason of protecting him. If the priest were to remain in his ministry, he would be bombarded with questions and with people who already feel so strongly about this type of situation. The priest could even be harmed. The Church is protecting him until this matter is resolved. I pray that you can find some piece and not be so hateful toward the Catholic Church. We are all human, we all make mistakes, we are all sinners. One man's sin is not everyone's fault. Yes, we are disappointed when the stories are true, but more reason to pray for our priests and our Church.
God bless you.