A Predator Priest (Kindle Single) (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
This selection was a 'single'-- a short read and is an expose of some families whose lives were destroyed by a priest through sexual abuse, rape and sodomy. What is so absolutely shocking about the book isn't the abuse by a priest (anyone who hasn't been living in a box is aware that sexual predators in the clergy are rampant) but that these sexual predators seemed to have flocked to a career in the church. Why? Because they knew they would be hidden.This book makes it shockingly apparent how complicit the church hierarchy was. They not only knew about the abuse for years, but supported it. I just don't understand why only the priests get vilified. Why doesn't the entire Catholic church accept their involvement rather than sweeping such things under the rug? This story follows the career of a priest from the seminary to retirement and all the lives he destroyed along the way. This is NOT a motivational story, by any means. It is a ripping off the cover from an emotional band-aid that went hidden for too many years. An important, and horrifying, read. This story desperately needed to be to told on behalf of all the victimized children that fell into the clutches of this pedophile priest, Barney Bissonnette. All the church leaders involved in this scandal(and for decades covering it up) deserve to rot in prison for the rest of their lives for the irreparable damage done to so many innocent children. Sadly, this will never happen, but perhaps as more victims speak out, the church will lose it's power to destroy lives and perpetuate evil. Here is one excerpt that left me outraged: "While Bissonnette cost the Santa Fe Archdiocese (or its insurers) $2 million or more in settlements, the individual payouts were actually quite modest. As always, the law broke things down very pragmatically: fondling (a one-time occurrence brought about $25,000) was worth less than oral sex, oral sex less than anal sex, anal sex less than anal sex with bleeding. Also factored in was the frequency and duration of the abuse. Not only the Church but its victims -- more determined to avoid embarrassment than to cash in to the max -- wanted these matters disposed of quietly and quickly. So the highest awards went for only around $300,000. This may explain why no one ever wrote much about Bissonnette; when it comes to public censure, he got pretty much of a pass."
What do You think about A Predator Priest (Kindle Single) (2000)?
A deeper look at just one figure in the pedophile priest scandals. A disturbing but important story.
—JoJo
Very disturbing true story!!! Parents need to be aware of these type of predators out there!
—TokyoU
Kindle single.New Yorker type article looking at a pedophile priest. Engrossing.
—keeleyann
interesting read if your interested in this sort of thing ...
—Johnandvan
