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Joined: Nov 2004
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Please pray for this central PA Ruthenian Byzantine priest. This article was in a local newspaper:

Pastor had child pornography, police say

By MIKE FAHER
mfaher@tribdem.com

THE [Johnstown PA] TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT

Thursday June 16, 2005 Page A3


A former pastor at two Byzantine Catholic churches in Cambria County has been charged with possessing child pornography.

Jason R. Dolan, 30, of Portage was named in a one-count indictment issued this week by a federal grand jury in Johnstown.

Until January, Dolan was pastor at SS. Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Portage and St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church in South Fork.

Church officials said he has been placed on administrative leave and no longer can function as a pastor.

"Effective Jan. 10, 2005, (Father) Jason Dolan was relieved of his assignments," said a statement from the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, which oversees churches in this area.

"It is with sadness that the Archeparchy learned of the indictment and will continue to remember him in prayer.�

Prosecutors said Dolan possessed child porn from April 27, 2004, until Jan. 3 - dates that roughly correspond to the 10 months he spent leading both local churches.

Dolan, whom church records say is a 1998 seminary graduate who also holds a bachelor�s degree in biology, could not be reached for comment. It was not clear whether he has an attorney.

Federal officials did not say why they began to investigate Dolan. State police and the FBI assisted the probe.

Court documents filed in Johnstown said Dolan had "pictures and movies in individual computer graphic files, the production of which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.�

While Dolan was indicted on only one count, the charge is serious. It is graded as a felony and carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,OOO fine. Dolan has not yet been arraigned and is not in federal custody.

In their statement, church officials noted that the criminal charges relate to "illegal materials on a personal computer obtained through the use of a private Internet account unconnected to any church of the Archeparchy."

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Prayers from Porter not only for this wayward priest but also for any who have been hurt due to his influence. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy.

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I pray for the protection of all children against this world-sweeping evil and pray for the wisdom of parents to know when and where to allow their children some independance. I pray for this priest who has been caught up in the repugnant act of viewing the unthinkable. Loving and forgiving savior, protect us all.
Mark.

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If a person is going to view pornography, why would an adult not look at an adult???? Why are sexually weak and morally ill persons looking at children? Is it because they hear about it so much in the news that it thus becomes desirable because it is the most prohibited, disgusting, evil, and sick of all deviances? confused

To view the innocents in this way is sicker than sick! frown

May the demon of this most evil of all sexual perversions which is permeating our society be REBUKED through the prayers of the faithful, the intercessions of all the Holy Saints, and the most powerful and Holy Name of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST! Amen.
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May God have mercy on the souls of those who have betrayed the holiness and trust required of their vows to the Holy Priesthood, and may He exorcise that demon which has taken over those priests who have done or thought of doing the unthinkable to the most precious innocents.

In Christ,
Alice
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P.S. Someone didn't like that prayer, because it wiped out my whole response the first time I tried replying by saying that the host could not find BYZCATH. That has never happened to me before!

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Quote
If a person is going to view pornography, why would an adult not look at an adult???? Why are sexually weak and morally ill persons looking at children? Is it because they hear about it so much in the news that it thus becomes desirable
I agree, Alice. I don't understand how anyone can see anything sexually attractive about children. They have none of the secondary sex characteristics that would appeal to adults. I don't understand, but it's good that I don't.

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Is the felony (with possible ten years and $250,000 fine) only for POSSESSING child porn or for PRODUCING it? The article seems to leave out a lot more descriptive data. Heavy on the charges, light on how and why they came to know about it.

Joe

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Quote
Originally posted by byzanTN:
I don't understand how anyone can see anything sexually attractive about children. They have none of the secondary sex characteristics that would appeal to adults. I don't understand, but it's good that I don't.
byzanTN,

This puzzling and troublesome issue comes up a lot in discussions regarding this sort of perversion/addiction in both journal articles and class discussions. I remember the various studies done on such addicts and how the addict's interests descend to more perverted levels as boredom settles in. He may begin with fully clothed images then skimpy ones. Then later will begin to get interested in partial and/or full nudity. Still later, the drive will take the addict down to lower levels where interest in particular styles of porn satisfies. Each level taken follows a sense of boredom in the previous level. Later, as the need becomes more intense, the addict will begin to seek kinky or bizzare forms. Eventually, children and animals.

The descent of the porn addict is akin to the drug addict's descent and the alcoholic's descent. Light stuff first, followed by stronger stuff, then leading to tough stuff. It is all very sad.

The story about the Cambria County priest is even sadder. It goes to show that no matter how much our vocations are scrutinized, we can still have situations like this. Personally, I think our process is faulty (demanding scrutiny itself), but that is my personal feelings/thoughts.

When I hear about these stories, I am glad that I have a wonderful wife to share my life with. But am reminded how the Church is a hospital for the sick, spiritually sick, and that this is the model typical in Byzantine spirituality.

Joe

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Alice AMEN!

Most Holy Theotokos pray for this your priest to the Lord our God, that he may repeant, turn, and be delivered from the vileness that has befallen him. In the Name of your Son Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, True God and True Man, we bind this demon of perversion and say get behind us. That in the holy Name of Jesus you are cast to the foot of the Cross to be delt with by Jesus. Lord God we just ask that you send your Holy Spirit upon Dolan that he may be renewed in life in you, filling all areas that were left vacant by the departure. May Dolan be set straight with his feet on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. All for the glory of God. amen


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