YOUNGSTOWN — The Diocese of Youngstown has issued a statement saying a priest was not wrong for failing to notify police about information he received years ago concerning the molestation of an underage girl.
Michael Parent, 55, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced Wednesday by Judge Lou A. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to 13 years in prison for raping his stepdaughter for years while living in Mahoning County. The rapes began in 1984 when the girl was 5 and did not end until 1996 when she was almost 18.
The victim, who is now 34, told authorities she went to the Rev. Michael Seifert and spoke about the assaults when she was 15, but the matter was never taken to police.
The diocese, in a press release issued this afternoon, said it was not made aware of the issue or the allegations that Father Seifert did not report what the girl said to authorities until a story appeared in today’s Vindicator, but church officials maintain that a priest cannot divulge information given in confidence.
For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com
Comments
What?! From the time this woman was a mere five years old until she was 18, she was raped by this monster?! Even if this rapist assaulted her only once per week, that's a mere 6 days of prison per rape. This is justice? She seeks help from a priest and he does nothing to protect her and his bosses claim he has no obligation to notify law enforcement of this crime against a child? This is morality? Check out Matthew 18:6 for what biblical justice would be for them.
Gotta love those Catholics. Raise all H*LL about condoms and the huge burden it would impose upon this group of hypocrites and then provide sanctuary for the monsters. They then transfer these monsters all over the country to destroy more lives. The Catholic Church has lost all credibility. This isn't a knock on the parishioners who are mostly law abiding and adhering to the Catholic faith. It's the patriarchal leadership who consider women second class citizens and spend their time battling abortions and condoms. Isn't it ironic and sad.
What a crock of bull.He is obligated as a so called human being to report this.
It is ironic and sad that this story hits the day the diocese has created a "2 week prayer and event week about the HHS insurance decrees. They are going to make a stink for 2 weeks that their companies that they get federal money for operating requires they offer complete medical insurance as all other businesses do, yet they are going to call it priveledge and protect someone for not reporting rape. The Catholic Church once again shows all of it's hypocrasy's.
Whaaaa! We ^^^^^^ all HATE religion!!!! Whaaaa!
The law is on the side of the priest. Try to change the law and see what happens.
Oh my God. the Catholic church truly is sickening. It's ok to discriminate against gay people. It's ok to force a woman to have a child no matter what the circumstances of of the conception, but they will go to the ends of the earth to protect pedophiles. Something so wrong here, what a hypocritical religion that is.
What is said in confession is private --but the Priest should have encouraged the girl to go to the police.
The Catholic Church is disgusting. Nothing has changed in their long history of gay orgies, incest, being hypocrites, and rape. The catholic church is a corporation of shame.
This ONGOING mindset is what is creating all of those empty pews.
@YBR
Enjoying "Pride" this weekend, Mr. Mouth?
I know I speak for many, many people when I say you should take your bigoted hate talk regarding religion and put it where it belongs.
The Catholic church you so hate is responsible for so many advancements in civilization they are innumerable. Without the Catholic faith our country may not even exist! Explored and settled the New World, founded our country, built and defended our country, quelled Muslim invasions, defeated Nazis.
Maybe you should take the freedoms so many dedicated Catholics gave you and offer them some thanks you uneducated fool.
Go do some reading while you're at it. Catholics are responsible for so much good. There is badness everywhere and the Church is no exception. I would also like to point out that so many of the bad deeds done in the church are of a homosexual pedophile nature. You goofs all want to blame the faith instead of blaming homosexuality as you should. I don't blame the Church for being ashamed of homosexuality. It is shameful. Nobody wants to admit to having homosexual behavior in their ranks, not even those that practice it.
Enjoy the parade to Sodom.