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Giuliani Employs Accused Pedophile Priest
By David KnowlesOct 23rd 2007 8:51AM
Filed Under:eRepublicans, Rudy Giuliani, Featured Stories, 2008 President
Monsignor Alan Placa, the priest who presided over the wedding of Rudy Giuliani and Donna Hannover, stands accused of repeatedly sexually molesting at least three boys at his former parish. Amid the controversy, Placa stepped down from his duties at the Long Island Catholic diocese, but he did not have much trouble finding work. According to ABC News:Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani hired a Catholic priest to work in his consulting firm months after the priest was accused of sexually molesting two former students and an altar boy and told by the church to stop performing his priestly duties.In 2002, a Grand Jury found that Placa, along with several of his fellow priests, could not be prosecuted because the statute of limitations had passed on the crimes. There are those who claim Placa also had a role in covering up the alleged sexual crimes of the clergy, including his own, as he worked as the lawyer for the diocese, employing what the Grand Jury termed, "deception and intimidation," to keep the allegations from the light of day.
Mr. Placa remains on the Giuliani payroll, despite the growing outcry from protesters at his campaign events. In an appearance on "Good Morning America" one of the men who claimed to be a victim, Richard Tollner, had this to say about Placa and his Giuliani's relationship:
"This man did unjust things, and he's being protected and employed and taken care of. It's not a good thing."
Rudy's response to those who would criticize his choice of company is now a familiar one. As is the case with Bernard Kerik, Giuliani is standing by Placa:
"I know the man; I know who he is, so I support him," Giuliani said. "We give some of the worst people in our society the presumption of innocence and benefit of the doubt," he said. "And, of course, I'm going to give that to one of my closest friends."
Such compassionate rhetoric from the man running on his law and order record as New York's mayor is a tad hard to swallow. Mr. Giuliani has always prided himself on possessing a prosecutor's zeal, but it seems that when his own friends are the people in question, his loyalty comes first. Indeed, the Grand Jury found plenty of evidence against Placa, but the shelf-life of the statue had simply expired. Mr. Kerik may not be so lucky. He faces Federal charges on bribery and obstruction of justice.
The question is whether these episodes tell us something about the kind of president Mr. Giuliani would make. Certainly, he's not the only candidate whose judgement had been called into play as regards misplaced personal loyalties. Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama come to mind. But what is particularly striking in Rudy's case is that in stretching his compassion to cover the indiscretions of his friends, he undercuts a central theme of his own making: that he's tough on crime.
For more information on David Knowles, please visit his website.
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 25)David S.11:32AMOct 23rd 2007
This is not good. It makes me think Giuliani will be just like Bush - stand by your buddies even when you know they have done wrong.
Tommy Christopher11:51AMOct 23rd 2007
I hope people actually get to here about this. Priest child rape cases are heinous on so many levels. Someone should tell Rudy, presumption of innocence is a legal distinction, not a moral one, and a pretty hollow distinction at that, since the statute of limitations is up.
Luckily for the priests, I hear God has no statute of limitations, and his rules of evidence are pretty relaxed. They can look forward to a speedy trial from Him. Maybe Rudy can be a character witness.
RMWiersema12:29PMOct 23rd 2007
Wow. Rudy is done. I can't imagine the other candidates not wanting to bring this up in the next debate. Republicans can spin SCHIP all they want on the basis of cost but not sure they can spin hiring a child molester... a catholic priest child molester at that. Abhorrent.
Rudy is done. Plus this pounds another nail into the Republican coffin as well. Looks like 2008 is going to be another Democratic sweep of both houses and the presidency.
t12:30PMOct 23rd 2007
Show me your friends and I will show you yourself! I can understand why his children have not spoken to him in years!
rap12:34PMOct 23rd 2007
WOW...why doesn't this amaze me! Child molestation is rampant in this country!! It has to be the worst crime you can commit! One reason it is out of control is because the abusers have many places to hide...way to go rudy! you are dispicable!
joi12:37PMOct 23rd 2007
With all the media coverage over pedophile priests He added one to his own staff. Rudy,Rudy,Rudy..it doesn't matter if you know him...yippee, so he married you to herself.The fact still remains he was removed from the Cathloic church..in a period where the dioceses are having to shell out BIG..I mean REALLY BIG bucks for priests that are pedophiles. Ummmm Rudy,now lets get real here okay....once a priest is de frocked then he had to have done something REALLLLLLLLY WRONG. I'd be running damage control and getting rid of him..and then withdraw from the campaign.
Steven12:38PMOct 23rd 2007
As a conservative republican I can only say that I hope it brings him down before he can get the nomination.
henry vincent12:41PMOct 23rd 2007
rudy is a scum bag lool at his ex police commissioner buddy.this guy is as corrupt as one can be.the priest is another story.
xjrix12:41PMOct 23rd 2007
RON FOR PRESIDENT 08
mcccmar12:42PMOct 23rd 2007
It would be worse if he hired an CONVICTED priest - ANYONE can accuse ANYONE of ANYTHING - it doesnt make them GUILTY - just ACCUSED I see wabc s anti guiliani and anti catholic bias coming through --lol they should worry about that idiot who stuffed documents down his pants and hillary appointed him her consultant - sandy burgler - when the priest is CONVICTED - fine - until then - the investigation goes on
Gloria12:42PMOct 23rd 2007
Birds of a feather stick together. However, the Word says, "Judge not less you be judged." I pray for Ray.
Susan Davidson12:43PMOct 23rd 2007
whereas it is admirable to be loyal and to stand by friends in times of trouble, this man takes it beyond, too far beyond. Stick a fork in Rudy, he's done.
metgheflin12:44PMOct 23rd 2007
I believe in loyalty but why could he not just use him as a personal counselor if he believed him. Why make him an employee?
metgheflin12:44PMOct 23rd 2007
I believe in loyalty but why could he not just use him as a personal counselor if he believed him. Why make him an employee?
BLevvvintre12:45PMOct 23rd 2007
Priest should be arrested for moleting children. How can they get by with this? The Catholic Church is being Bankrupted by paying millions of dollars to the victims. This is outrageous.
mcccmar12:45PMOct 23rd 2007
ANYONE can accuse ANYONE of ANYTHING - that doesnt make him guilty - when he is CONVICTED its another story - I see aol and abcs anti guiliani and anti catholic bias coming up here - shame - why dont you run the story about hills appointing sandy burgler as consultant to her campaign
Mimi12:46PMOct 23rd 2007
Sounds like another "Bush".....do whatever you want despite what the "People" think or want. I hope this is the end of "Rudy for President"!
jcurtis59512:46PMOct 23rd 2007
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy, you friend's a tootie fruitie. You pay the man whose wondering hand goes into young boy's bootie. You hire crooks and pay them well and in the end your all friends in hell.
Jerome12:46PMOct 23rd 2007
I am in the least bit surprised. This man cares less about what is right and if you hold him accountable he slaps back to you all the reasons why you are looking at it incorrectly and then he further goes to seek out how to squeeze what ever good looks from it to his advantage. For when he was mayor of New York, especially 911, I did not see anything so great he did other than appearing on camera at the right places, talking everywhere making himself look good! A great mayor prevents a "911" from happening, not wait when it happens and appear everywhere over the media to get that credit. Good for him now!
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suoires10:04AMOct 23rd 2007
does not suprise me..he probally gave rudy his first dress....