Another pastor problem

[dancingme]

It also happens that Giuliani has long been more attached to a pastor than even Obama is to Wright. Monsignor Alan Placa married Giuliani to his second wife, Donna Hanover, and is actually employed by Giuliani Associates. Placa has been credibly accused of serial molestation of teenage boys, was in charge of handling molestation accusations in Long Island in the heyday of the church's cover-up of child abuse and was eventually suspended by the church from priestly duties for those reasons. The credible charges were made after the statute of limitations had passed and so no legal recourse was possible. But here's the Associated Press last year:

"There's ample evidence showing that Placa consistently protected predators, shrewdly deceived victims, and covered up horrific clergy sex crimes," said a statement from David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
Last year, theocon Deal Hudson reported that:

The grand jury report includes excerpts from a letter in which Placa brags about his ability to settle multi-million dollar clergy abuse claims for "$20,000 to $100,000."... The suspension of Placa's priestly duties has now reached the five-year point, far beyond the norm in such cases.
Here was Giuliani's response when challenged about his continuing association:

"I know the man; I know who he is, so I support him. We give some of the worst people in our society the presumption of innocence and benefit of the doubt. And, of course, I'm going to give that to one of my closest friends."

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/03/the-pastors-of.html

[ginchinchili]

1. Neither Obama nor Giuliani should be elected president.

It's the closeness of the relationships that should define whether or not it's an issue. In Obama's case, Wright and him couldn't be a whole lot closer.

[dancingme]

2. Giuliani employs the guy

much worse than statements.

[11 Bravo]

4. Wrong. McCain should not. But if Senator Obama secures the nomination ...

then he most assuredly needs to be elected as the next President of the United States.

[rurallib]

7. Compared to McCain, Obama is a saint

And yet you'd not vote for Obama and let McCain totally fuck this country?

[leftynyc]

3. Part of the reason the trial balloon

of him running for governor in a special election is such a joke. Compared to our new governor, Rudy is doggie doo.

[OilemFirchen]

5. As I observed in a now locked post

Placa was also dean of Sean Hannity's high school, and one of his teachers.

Which, of course, makes ole slopehead a child buggerer himself.

[dancingme]

6. that explains a lot

O8)

[rurallib]

8. We had one of those for our high-school principal

He's getting sued to high heaven.

[msallied]

9. Hmmm... slightly extreme political statements by a preacher vs pedophilia.