Fresno Diocese Continues to Let "Accused" Child Molester Work with Children

Paul Kiesel
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Posted by Paul KieselMarch 19, 2009 7:20 PM

A little over two years ago, a Fresno jury found Father Eric Swearingen guilty (9-3) of molesting a former altar boy, however, Bishop John J. Steinbock has continued to allow this man to work with children at the Holy Spirit Parish in Fresno, California.

What is Bishop Steinbock thinking? Would a school district allow a teacher faced with the same situation as Swearingen (I find it inappropriate to refer to him as "Father," as it shows deference to a man who, frankly, doesn't deserve it) to continue working with children? As a parent, would you want your children around a man like that?

Bishop Steinbock, based on his actions, could care less about the future safety of children within any of his parishes and this was especially punctuated yesterday, as he waltzed into a Fresno courtroom, for another clergy sexual abuse case involving one of his former priests, and casually winked at the jury. His attitude, though, changed almost immediately after being questioned by the plaintiff's attorney, Jeff Anderson.

Jeff Anderson: Bishop, when did you first realize or learn that when an adult lays his hands on the genitals of a child and manipulates the genitals of a child and places them on the body of a child for sexual purposes, it was a crime? When did you first realize that?

Bishop: You know, it's really hard for me to say. I think society --

Anderson: No, you.

Bishop: Me?

Anderson: You.

Bishop: I think I thought along with society for so many years it was --

Anderson: Bishop, I'm going to ask you to focus on the question. When did you first learn that it was a crime for an adult, a person over the age of 18, to engage in sex with a kid?

Bishop: Well, I think we would all think that was always a criminal case.

Anderson: If you knew that, then why didn't you turn it over to the law enforcement for them to determine whether or not a crime had been committed and the statute of limitations had passed or not?

Bishop: Because I do not have an allegation of that against him. This is way back in 1995. As I said, I had no cause to take his faculties or away. There was no allegation.

Anderson: You were concerned about a civil suit because you go on to say [in the Bishop's own notes from 1995], "There can always be a civil suit," right?

Bishop: Well, there can always be a civil suit. But I'm also thinking of his, you know, that might be a civil suit against him. I mean, I wasn't aware that they'd probably just come at the Diocese alone. I figured they would also go after the priest.

Wow! Steinbock's responses at one point show that back in 1995, when the current allegation was brought to his attention, he was more concerned with a civil suit than turning over any evidence of wrongdoing by his clergymen to the authorities.

Again, what is Steinbock thinking and who above him (i.e. the Pope, Cardinal Mahony) would allow for this type of behavior to continue in ANY Catholic diocese throughout the world?

13 Comments

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hrh
Posted by hrh
March 19, 2009 9:30 PM

Mr Kiesel, that last question was rhetorical, wasn't it?! -:)

If it wasn't, how about 1) Bish Club SOP, or 2) "Crimens solicitationis"?

hrh
Posted by hrh
March 19, 2009 9:30 PM

Mr Kiesel, that last question was rhetorical, wasn't it?! -:)

If it wasn't, how about 1) Bish Club SOP, or 2) "Crimens solicitationis"?

Georgie
Posted by Georgie
March 19, 2009 10:24 PM

No, Paul, This faith based corporation attempting to pass itself off as a religion (a.k.a.: The Roman Catholic Church)care nothing for the children who were sexually brutalized by the scum of their anointed, yet fallen, priests, brothers deacons, nuns and (some) bishops. What the Catholic Pope, Cardinals and Bishops do care about are the Billions of Dollars in civil law suits it has already cost them; along with the Billions more it's going to cost in future law suits. But if anyone is expecting these men of the church to display heartfelt humanity or concern for the sexually victimized catholic children who have lost so much (some of whom have even lost faith in a loving and merciful GOD), don't hold your breath.

Albino Luciani
Posted by Albino Luciani
March 20, 2009 12:22 AM

www.bishop-accountability.org/abusetracker for daily vetted & verified reporting on Rog "Mahal" Mahony (ARCH CRIMINAL), the Roman "La Cosa Nostra"
Curia, & the USCCB (Unremoved Sexual Criminal Cabal Bishops) ripping-off documented tens of billions of laity offetory plate dollars. and laity paid for assets, to support their sustained and unprosecuted global pedophile cult.

THE SOLUTION? "STOP DONATING LAITY!" as St. Peter Damien correctly asserted.

No Curia Removal & Punishment Who CAUSED All Ill? No Laity Monies! It Is THAT Simple!

Fiat Lux & Veritas!

Albino Luciani,
MURDERED POPE,
Not Smiling, From Heaven

TJ Show
Posted by TJ Show
March 20, 2009 1:02 AM

Will we hear the rest Mr.Kiesel.

Thank You for your hard work.

Crying priest almost?

Cardinal was worked good on what points by Jeff?

The people need a copy of the record Paul. Will we see that or will this all be under court order?

Central Valley
Posted by Central Valley
March 20, 2009 1:49 AM

Only the tip of the iceburg in the diocese of Fresno..........Lots of skeletons etc. in the diocese. Steinbock still thinks these thing cannot happen in his diocese. Google Fr. Michael Listiri....just make sure when you do the google search there are no children abel to view your computer.
Keep up the good work, the Fresno diocese makes the Los Angeles archdiocese look like disneyland.

mike Ference
Posted by mike Ference
March 20, 2009 2:05 AM

Content removed at request of commenter.

Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
Posted by Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
March 20, 2009 7:39 AM

Delaware Leads the Way on Sex Abuse
By Maureen Paul Turlish
The Philadelphia Inquirer
July 31, 2007

Delaware — On July 10, a history-making event took place in Delaware when Gov. Ruth Ann Minner signed into law what is believed to be the most comprehensive civil legislation concerning the sexual abuse of minors.

Delaware residents, over a period of two years, worked very hard to make the Child Victims Act (Senate Bill 29) a law. It provides for a two-year moratorium on the statute of limitations on lawsuits for sexual abuse. Victims have until July 10, 2009, to seek damages regardless of when the assaults occurred.

There is no question that the signing of this bill will provide the necessary impetus for states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland, and the District of Columbia, to pursue this type of legislation. Victims whose lawsuits previously were barred due to time limits will now have their day of justice in a court of law.

The bill's primary sponsor, State Sen. Karen E. Peterson (D., New Castle), was a graduate of St. Elizabeth Catholic High School in Wilmington, where I taught for nearly 10 years.

One of my former art students, Jean Lange, testified before the Legislature. As a child, she was sexually abused by her father. Because of her advocacy a few years ago, she was instrumental in getting the criminal statutes regarding child abuse changed, leading to her father's incarceration.

Along with other victims of childhood sexual abuse and their parents, I was privileged to testify before both the Senate and House Judiciary Committees supporting the passage of this much-needed legislation. Joining me were religious leaders and a constitutional-law expert.

Robert Quill, who testified about his experiences with childhood sexual abuse, was one of the many brave victims I have met. Quill, a former Navy lieutenant and staff attorney for the Atlanta office of the U.S. Court of Appeals, became the first person to file suit in Delaware under the new law on July 12. He is suing a priest, a parish, and the Diocese of Wilmington for sexual assaults he alleges took place more than 40 years ago.

Delaware, the first state, is often described as a state that is "small enough to make a difference."

We were successful in passing this sorely-needed legislation due, in large measure, to the broad support and non-sectarian makeup of our advocacy coalition, Child Victims Voice (childvictimsvoice.com). Besides individual supporters, the coalition includes almost 100 nonprofits, and various religious denominations, including the Jewish community, particularly the Rabbinical Association of Delaware and Jewish Family Services. Subsequently, there was no way that either the sponsorship of this legislation or the Child Victims Act itself could be described or construed as anti-Catholic. It is very much pro-child.

However, my church, the Roman Catholic Church, should not be moving out of crisis mode, because this crisis is far from being over. One only has to look to recent events in California - which passed a one-year window on abuse cases in 2002 - to realize that.

The leadership and credibility of the bishops in the United States has been irreparably weakened because of sex-abuse allegations, and it will be decades before it recovers. Some in the Roman Catholic Church believe that church leaders will not be able to recoup their losses.

In other countries around the world - particularly in Italy, Brazil and parts of Africa - sexual abuse by clerics has not even begun to be addressed by either church or civil authorities - let alone abuse by warring armies or family members. This must begin to happen.

In Delaware, we have taken that step.

We know that pedophiles, rapists, molesters and child abusers come from all walks of life and that the sexual abuse of children happens primarily in the home. But here, no longer will organizations that hid or covered up for known sexual predators within their ranks go unpunished. They will be held accountable.

--------------------------------------------------

Maureen Paul Turlish can be reached at: maureenpaulturlish@yahoo.com

Louis Mahony
Posted by Louis Mahony
March 20, 2009 10:28 AM

Keep donating to my brother, our personal wealth continues to grow, while you fools in the pews are distracted by pedos!

We are raking it in, with real estate back door deals in LA, and you get pay, and pay, and pay.

The jerks in Rome don't even know how much we have stashed away for ourselves, but we did learned from the best in embezzlement: Bernard Law.

We have not, and will not, be caught, like that amateur hour clown Bernie Madoff!

Catch Us If You Can, SUCKERS!

Louis Mahony
Roger's Twin (Also Evil) Brother

gabe
Posted by gabe
March 20, 2009 12:23 PM

Daily I am amazed at, but no longer surprised by, the heinous crimes committed by Catholic bishops, cardinals and popes, who knowingly allowed sexually predatory priests continue molesting innocent children and vulnerable adults. I am not sure that our legal system will ever be able to "catch" them and issue justice. But, one think I do know is that God will do so. God may be a merciful God, but God is also a just God, and they will receive justice.

Norma Villarreal
Posted by Norma Villarreal
March 22, 2009 8:18 PM

Bishop Steinbock, when did you first learn or realize that an adult putting his hands on the genitals of a child an dmanipulating them for sexual purposes is a crime? Give us a straight answer.

Keith Richard Radford Jr
Posted by Keith Richard Radford Jr
March 23, 2009 11:31 AM

A law using the net conection of christian theives.

The people who think the registry is a good IDea are not looking out for any but themselves, The money they can get for the punishment they feel they are dolling out is a waste. My offence was 25 years ago now after all the hype in 25 years I have had a traffic ticket. The registry has done nothing to detour me in anyway. I can say this without reservation or remorse. Slandering people openly on the net and through their my life for no reason. Frighting people into a plea bargains while people who are acutely paid tax dollars to type notes and harass people are for now in favor. The theft of jobs and homes has brought us to the point that if you can not see by now this is unlawful you will get the point soon enough when you buy one of these sex offenders homes after pushing them out and have to give it back.

You will have the fight of the century on you stinking thieving hands for what you have done. You are the lowest form of bottom feeders.
Google search results
136,097 for murder
17,978 for burglary
10,947 for car theft
9,065 for drunk driving
2,921 for child molester low nubmer huh?
Try googling American Idol.

This small group of garbage use fear and faith groups to keep a way of life that will bring us back to the plains in loin cloth in no time flat.

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES
OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN PREVENTION AND PROSECUTION
PROGRAMS
For an additional amount for ‘‘Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution Programs’’, $225,000,000 for grants to combat violence against women, as authorized by part T of the Omnibus Crime Control
and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg
et seq.): Provided, That, $50,000,000 shall be for transitional housing assistance grants for victims of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault as authorized by section 40299 of the Violent
Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law
103–322).

A violation here and a violation there the registry is a violation and these stinking thieving have their hands covered with blood for what they have done. They are the lowest form of bottom feeders. Our country has 1 out of 45 citizens monitored like a school teacers board run amok with some maniacal hall monitor who feels more citations will get them a pat on their head and more treats.

Keith Richard Radford Jr
Posted by Keith Richard Radford Jr
March 23, 2009 11:31 AM

A law using the net conection of christian theives.

The people who think the registry is a good IDea are not looking out for any but themselves, The money they can get for the punishment they feel they are dolling out is a waste. My offence was 25 years ago now after all the hype in 25 years I have had a traffic ticket. The registry has done nothing to detour me in anyway. I can say this without reservation or remorse. Slandering people openly on the net and through their my life for no reason. Frighting people into a plea bargains while people who are acutely paid tax dollars to type notes and harass people are for now in favor. The theft of jobs and homes has brought us to the point that if you can not see by now this is unlawful you will get the point soon enough when you buy one of these sex offenders homes after pushing them out and have to give it back.

You will have the fight of the century on you stinking thieving hands for what you have done. You are the lowest form of bottom feeders.
Google search results
136,097 for murder
17,978 for burglary
10,947 for car theft
9,065 for drunk driving
2,921 for child molester low nubmer huh?
Try googling American Idol.

This small group of garbage use fear and faith groups to keep a way of life that will bring us back to the plains in loin cloth in no time flat.

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES
OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN PREVENTION AND PROSECUTION
PROGRAMS
For an additional amount for ‘‘Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution Programs’’, $225,000,000 for grants to combat violence against women, as authorized by part T of the Omnibus Crime Control
and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796gg
et seq.): Provided, That, $50,000,000 shall be for transitional housing assistance grants for victims of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault as authorized by section 40299 of the Violent
Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Public Law
103–322).

A violation here and a violation there the registry is a violation and these stinking thieving have their hands covered with blood for what they have done. They are the lowest form of bottom feeders. Our country has 1 out of 45 citizens monitored like a school teacers board run amok with some maniacal hall monitor who feels more citations will get them a pat on their head and more treats.

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