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.
carmencita ago
Looking at this now. We must watch this carefully. The RICO case is a good step forward, or so it seems. BUT. We must watch how it proceeds. Will they confiscate large amounts of money from Parishes and the Vatican? This will only hurt the Faithful in the long run. There was an article this morning on Church Militant's site and it has now totally disappeared. The article was in conjunction with their donation drive. It was about how the Catholics are dwindling in numbers. While that is a frightening thought, in the comments someone proposed that the RICO case must be watched since the govt. could raid the Church's coffers and cripple many parishes causing it impossible for Catholics to even receive the Sacraments and the Eucharist. I am going to pray the Rosary and keep close watch. @Gilderoy
NOMOCHOMO ago
@carmencita and anyone else interested in a modern history of the financial side of the Catholic Church, I'd strongly suggest you read Nino Lobello's books:
Vatican Empire
Vatican USA
Vatican Paper$ (Vatican Papers)
Vatican's Wealth
He was a University if Kansas Professor of Journalism, Overseas Vatican Correspondent to the NY Daily News. A Catholic himself, he documents just the financial side and tax laws that benefit the church, while also including rare case studies of revealed church financials that depict how the whole church funnels money upwards to the Pope/have ridiculously unfair tax laws that let them have huge untaxable side businesses.
Gilderoy ago
Thanks for this. Follow the money, especially in the Catholic Church.
carmencita ago
I am not aware of him but will check him out. For awhile now I have strongly felt that All Houses of Worship should have to pay taxes. I am not very good at this stuff, but I think each parish should be able to apply for a tax break (notice I said break) if they service the poor such as running a soup kitchen, etc. This must be on parish grounds. There are many good parishes that are not and do not agree with the present pope and his teachings. Thanks for the advice.
NOMOCHOMO ago
Totally agree, and dont mean all Catholics are involved/aware.
I also agree, we may need to do this to charities too. If their work is virtuous, they should have no problem publishing their records.
carmencita ago
Exactly. I have no problem with any house of worship that is doing work for the poor. There are exemptions for the elderly home owners and this is the type of exemption I mean. They are available in your town or district. They can create something special for them. The Vatican has just made 25M disappear into thin air
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/wuerl-masterminded-25-million-papal-foundation-grant-to-vatican
$25 Million Papal Foundation Grant to Vatican Remains Unaccounted For
PHILADELPHIA (ChurchMilitant.com) - After Cdl. Donald Wuerl spearheaded a $25 million grant to the Vatican earlier this year through the Papal Foundation, sources confirm the money remains unaccounted for, the Rome hospital designated as beneficiary apparently never having received the grant.
Sources also confirm Wuerl was behind the pope's cancellation of a meeting with foundation members in March, and continues to pull the strings behind the scenes.
Controversy engulfed the Papal Foundation, a charity partially founded by Abp. Theodore McCarrick in 1988 with assets worth $206 million, when three stewards resigned from the Audit Committee earlier this year after Wuerl pushed for the Vatican to receive $25 million — the largest single grant ever given by the foundation. The money was ostensibly to be used toward the Istituto Dermopatico Dell'Immacolata (IDI), a scandal-ridden hospital in Rome investigated by Italian authorities for embezzlement and tax fraud of nearly a billion euros.
Pope Francis had allegedly requested the $25 million in summer of 2017, and Wuerl, then-chairman of the foundation, lobbied members of the Board of Trustees to vote to approve the grant (originally a loan, but revised to an outright grant on Wuerl's insistence).
Board members consist of all nine U.S.-based cardinals, as well as various bishops and laymen, making up a total of 24 trustees. @Gilderoy @HennyPenny