What's The Deal With Ramirez?
Posted by: Jubal | 08/25/2008 11:05 AM
The OC Register's story on Fr. Luis Ramirez conviction raises some important questions, such as why he was not required to register as sex offender. After all, he admits liquoring up his 17-year old victim before taking him to a hotel, where Ramirez tried to molest him.
It's difficult to take seriously Fr. Ramirez's assurances this will never happen again. He already has a record for abusing alcohol, which is more than likely directly connected to this demonstrated, disordered sexual impulse toward teenage boys.
There's no question in my mind that his order ought to defrock him. I hope he can overcome his problem and never abuses again, but he has no business being a priest or around potential targets.
And so I'm dismayed the Anaheim City Attorney didn't seek to have him register as a sex offender. According to the OC Register, the Anaheim police and county probation pressed for just that. Maybe the city attorney's office felt they lacked sufficient evidence to make the dismissed misdemeanor charges -- "furnishing/selling alcohol to a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and annoying or molesting a child" -- stick. I put a call into the city attorney's office seeking some clarification or explanation.
And so another victim is scarred, he and his family's faith wrecked, the Catholic Church receives another black eye stemming, at least in part, from a formation process that has failed to root men like Fr. Ramirez from the seminaries, and Ramirez will be beyond legal tracking once he's served his time.
It's difficult to take seriously Fr. Ramirez's assurances this will never happen again. He already has a record for abusing alcohol, which is more than likely directly connected to this demonstrated, disordered sexual impulse toward teenage boys.
There's no question in my mind that his order ought to defrock him. I hope he can overcome his problem and never abuses again, but he has no business being a priest or around potential targets.
And so I'm dismayed the Anaheim City Attorney didn't seek to have him register as a sex offender. According to the OC Register, the Anaheim police and county probation pressed for just that. Maybe the city attorney's office felt they lacked sufficient evidence to make the dismissed misdemeanor charges -- "furnishing/selling alcohol to a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and annoying or molesting a child" -- stick. I put a call into the city attorney's office seeking some clarification or explanation.
And so another victim is scarred, he and his family's faith wrecked, the Catholic Church receives another black eye stemming, at least in part, from a formation process that has failed to root men like Fr. Ramirez from the seminaries, and Ramirez will be beyond legal tracking once he's served his time.
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you can see the documentary I made about him at recallingrocco "dot" com....
I'll go ya one better Matt. Just like you don't believe Fr Ramirez is serious about not molesting kids & abusing alcohol(BTW I agree w/you here), I still don't believe the Catholic Church is serious about stopping the abuse scandals. Exhibit A: Cardinal Mahoney is still in charge of the LA Arch-Diocese to this day. Remember, just because the church shells out money for settlements, doesn't mean they've put an end to this huge problem.
The Diocese yanked Ramirez from the parish and informed parishioners about it.
But I realize there is a scorched earth element that will always view Church actions and reactions as insufficient and evidence the Church, for some inexplicable reason, doesn't want to bring an end to clergy sex abuse.
Matt, I will be curious to read what you hear from the City Attorney. With all the publicity surrounding abuses by members of the catholic clergy I would be amazed if a sitting prosecutor would seek an out for a convicted offender.
How come the DA didn't prosecute this case? City attorneys file misdemeanor claims against code violators, they don't prosecute (or in this case not prosecute) felony cases. Or do they? Can anybody name Anaheim's city attorney?
Jack White has been the Anaheim City Attorney forever, he quit caring ages ago.
Sorry, spoke too soon. The gentleman who handled this case was Assistant City Attorney Patrick Ahle. Apparently Anaheim has more than one person in that office that does not care about us. Thankfully we have many more there who do give a rip, but it is sad to see stories like this.
If the Church were serious about ending clergy sexual abuse it would see its way clear to eliminating the vow of celibacy for priests.
The leadership of the RCC wants the world to believe that this is strictly an American problem. It's not. The US is simply one of the few countries where victims have stood up to their abusers.
Since when did the City of Anaheim prosecute criminal cases? Can the DA simply hand over the job?
It's important to understand that city attorneys are there to advise the council and staff on issues involving the municipal and government (not Criminal) codes. Cities also employ solicitors to pursue violators of the municipal code - involving land use issues.
Is Patrick Ahle qualified to prosecute a criminal case? It doesn't appear so.
It would be very helpful if someone from the City of A or the DA would explain what's going on.
Shocked me too, but if they declined to pursue it, that means they had the opportunity to pursue it. I do not think they were prosecuting the case, simply enforcing having him register as a sex offender in the City. Matt, did they return your call?