NEWS: Former Priest Convicted of Child Rape in Mass., page 1

Former priest Paul Shanley was convicted Monday of repeatedly raping and fondling a boy at his Roman Catholic church during the 1980s. Shanley was convicted on two counts each of child rape and indecent assault and battery on a child. He faces life in prison. Court records revealed that the archdiocese was aware of problems decades ago when Shanley publicly advocated intimate relations between men and boys; he was transferred from parish to parish when accusations were made. He will be sentenced February 15th.

story.news.yahoo.com
Defrocked priest Paul Shanley, the most notorious figure in the sex scandal that rocked the Boston Archdiocese, was convicted Monday of repeatedly raping and fondling a boy at his Roman Catholic church during the 1980s.

The conviction on all four charges gives prosecutors an important victory in their effort to bring pedophile priests to justice for decades of abuse at parishes around the country.

Shanley, 74, could get life in prison for two counts each of child rape and indecent assault and battery on a child when he is sentenced Feb. 15. His bail was revoked and he was immediately led off to jail.

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Personally, I would prefer that he get the death penalty, there is no excuse for what he did. It would really have been nice if they had charged him sooner, that way he would have many years to think about what he did considering the fact he will only get life in prison.

I also wonder how on earth the Catholic Church could have let this happen in the church for so many years. We have seen many convictions lately but none like this one and they need to be stopped.

[edit on 8-2-2005 by Banshee]