50 Police Investigators Raid Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Chancery (pizzagate)

submitted ago by Gilderoy

Interesting story developing about a team of multiple police agencies descending on the offices of the Archdiocese of Houston-Galveston moments ago. Police are carrying in boxes, and a police "crime scene" truck is on hand. Police spokesman said they are looking for "secret archives" in connection with the criminal case of Manuel LaRosa-Lopez, accused of 4 counts of indecency with a child. The search and seizure operation could continue tomorrow as well.

https://twitter.com/KHOU/status/1067826534537322496

Spokesman indicated that Montgomery County police had received tips from the Pennsylvania AG on what to search for in the chancery. (That video has since been taken down, however. Was just there a minute ago, I swear!)

The current Archbishop of Houston is Cardinal Daniel DiNardo who also serves as the head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. He has said the Archdiocese is cooperating with the investigation:

https://kdvr.com/2018/11/28/authorities-raid-archdiocese-of-galveston-houstons-secret-archives-in-sex-abuse-case/

Interesting that the Pennsylvania AG is telling Texas police what evidence to search for. Will try to find that video to substantiate what I just heard. It was at this site but has just been taken down as I was writing this: https://www.khou.com/article/news/watch-live-dato-hold-11-am-press-conference-outside-archdiocese-of-galveston-houston/285-618021117

The live press conference with Montgomery County DA Brett Ligon is no longer available; some excerpts available on Twitter:

1) "Concerning today's action at the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Montgomery County D.A. Brett Ligon says he'll go where the search takes him, "If it's at the Vatican, I'll be heading to Rome. It could be like the A&M game...seven overtimes."

https://twitter.com/KHOU/status/1067830856096481280

2) Montgomery County D.A. Brett Ligon, "The patron saint of children is St. Nicholas...St. Nicholas is also known as Santa Claus. Well, Santa Claus is here to tell you, that the state of Texas will go to any length to protect children." https://twitter.com/KHOU/status/1067835134848552961

3) Breaking: About today's search at the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Montgomery County D.A. Brett Ligon says he's taken the burden off the church, "I'm gonna find it all out. I'm a Catholic myself."

https://twitter.com/KHOU/status/1067829277540835328

Sounds like a good man. Godspeed, sir.

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NOMOCHOMO ago

@carmencita, "multiple police agencies"....are raiding DIOCESES...could it include the feds??!!!

The current Archbishop of Houston is Cardinal Daniel DiNardo who also serves as the head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. He has said the Archdiocese is cooperating with the investigation:

The RICO case this month was filed against THE USCCB and THE POPE

This is a huge deal.

Gilderoy ago

Interesting that the Montgomery County DA Brett Ligon said the search for "secret archives" could lead to the Vatican, and he'll go there if he has to get it. Wow!

https://twitter.com/KHOU/status/1067830856096481280

Interesting that the Pennsylvania DA is giving him direction where to find the "secret archives".

NOMOCHOMO ago

Parts of the article I found Relevant

Armed with a search warrant...The unprecedented action in Texas was taken by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, along with the Texas Rangers and Conroe Police Department. Nearly 50 investigators arrived Wednesday morning

We’re treating the Catholic Church the same way we treat a bank that has records, the same way we treat a criminal enterprise

Ligon said that cooperation hasn’t been as open and transparent as he would like. Rather than getting the keys from day one, Ligon said he had to get attorneys involved and get a search warrant. (that isn't reassuring, did they try to ask for the records/alert the bishops what was coming)

“That’s not the type of cooperation I would hope for,” the DA said. “But it’s the type of cooperation I would expect from a sophisticated company.”

“This is not a search warrant against the Catholic Church,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon. “It’s a search warrant to get evidence about (LaRosa-Lopez).” (also not reassuring)

Ligon said Wednesday's search turned up documents about potential criminal activity involving other priests, the Texas Rangers would investigate that information.[sic] (thats how it reads, it seems to be missing a contraction if/and) Additionally, a Pennsylvania federal prosecutor last month put Cardinal DiNardo on notice, in his capacity as President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, to preserve all sexual abuse-related documents at any Catholic diocese across the country. (So they tipped the him off and gave the church time to destroy records).

Gilderoy ago

Great finds! They have to treat the Church as a criminal enterprise. Sad, but true.

Very intriguing about Cardinal DiNardo being tipped off by the PA federal prosecutor. There does seem to be a mysterious link between the Pennsylvania Justice Department, Cardinal DiNardo and the Galveston-Houston Diocese. I found the comments by Brett Ligon about the help the Pennsylvania AG gave to the Montgomery County police in their investigation:

https://twitter.com/jackmjenkins/status/1067867187002728448

"Ligon suggested to reporters that his investigation of [Fr] Rosa-Lopez has been informed by the Pennsylvania report, which alleged widespread sexual abuse of more than 1,000 children by hundreds of Catholic priests there over 70 years.

"The Pennsylvania's Attorney General's Office has been very helpful in helping us structure what we're looking for," Ligon said.

Are the abuse cases in Pennsylvania and Houston-Galveston similar? Is there a pattern connecting them? Why the connection? Could possibly some of the abuse cases in Pennsylvania be about SRA which might also have been involved in case of Fr. La Rosa-Lopez? I'm just throwing out ideas. Must be something very serious to have them bring a Crime Scene truck and police from multiple agencies to join in the search for evidence. Brett Ligon said he would go to the Vatican to find the evidence if he had to.

Vindicator ago

Probably some of the priests uncovered in Pennsylvania were transfered there from positions in the Houston diocese. They are following the trail backward to find more victims and complicit hierarchy.

carmencita ago

Yes, after the grand jury in Pa they listed the names of priests that were also involved in other states. This could be the connection between the two. I am sure there are other reasons they are communicating including how to go forward depending on what is discovered.

The district attorney's office from nearby Montgomery County, the Conroe Police Department (Conroe is where the alleged abuse happened) and the Texas Rangers all took part in the raid. Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon said at a press conference Wednesday that "federal agencies" were at the scene as well.

Federal Agencies

This is certainly a mystifying event. @Gilderoy