Latest Breaking News
In reply to the discussion: Catholic bishops group denounces contraception compromise [View all]happyslug
(14,779 posts)See the Massachusetts Attorney General Report:
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/reports/ReillyExecSum.pdf
The Report clearly states the Diocese's failure to report the crimes, but then points out the law did NOT require religious leaders to report such crime till after 2002 thus no State criminal liability.
Now RICO is a federal law, but only comes into play if can be shown that an organization committed at least two of the following crimes:
Any violation of state statutes against gambling, murder, kidnapping, extortion, arson, robbery, bribery, dealing in obscene matter, or dealing in a controlled substance or listed chemical (as defined in the Controlled Substances Act);
Any act of bribery, counterfeiting, theft, embezzlement, fraud, dealing in obscene matter, obstruction of justice, slavery, racketeering, gambling, money laundering, commission of murder-for-hire, and several other offenses covered under the Federal criminal code (Title 18);
Embezzlement of union funds;
Bankruptcy fraud or securities fraud;
Drug trafficking; long-term and elaborate drug networks can also be prosecuted using the
Continuing Criminal Enterprise Statute (only applies to narcotics organizations see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuing_Criminal_Enterprise);
Criminal copyright infringement;
Money laundering and related offenses;
Bringing in, aiding or assisting aliens in illegally entering the country (if the action was for financial gain);
Acts of terrorism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeer_Influenced_and_Corrupt_Organizations_Act
Given that the Catholic Church has not even been ACCUSED of these crimes, let alone Charged, NO RICO violation.
You can attack the Catholic Church and its leadership over how they handle the pedophile cases (As the Massachusetts Attorney General did in the Massachusetts Attorney General's report) but no crime was committed by the Church Leadership when they covered up the pedophile cases (Priest's who DID the actual attacks were convicted but we are talking about how the LEADERSHIP of those allegations not the Actual assaults themselves). No crime, no charges, thus Law could leave the US.
Please note the Law has been changed, Religious leaders MUST report such crimes today but unless you are "mandatory" reporter (Teachers, Doctors, Now Religious Clergy) you do NOT have to report it. Under the English Common Law which still the law in the US, they has never been a duty to report any crime to anyone unless you are a participate in planning or doing the crime. In none of the Pedophile cases has the Catholic Church been accused of being involved in planning or doing the actual crime thus no criminal liability (Please note this rule applies to Criminal activities, the Catholic church is still liable under Civil law for any cover up. Civil litigation has broader reach but only can award money damages).
I have heard the allegation that Bishop Law had run away from Criminal Charges in regards to the Pedophile cases, but every time I look into those stories I found them to have no basis in law or fact. Unless you are a mandatory reporter, and those are restricted in numbers, you have no duty to report ANY CRIME you know of UNLESS you are a party to the Crime or knew of it BEFORE the crime occurred (The later is the crime of "misprision" see Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misprision_of_felony for more details of that crime).