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1
Long Thread
Quotations are taken directly from the video, with timings given.
Church Militant's video, published last month, has caused quite a stir. Comments on YouTube, with a few exceptions, are almost overwhelmingly supportive of CM's reporting.
Long Thread
Quotations are taken directly from the video, with timings given.
Church Militant's video, published last month, has caused quite a stir. Comments on YouTube, with a few exceptions, are almost overwhelmingly supportive of CM's reporting.
2
At 34:17 Christine Niles describes her work as follows:-
"I specialise in investigative reporting. I most especially specialise in exposing corruption and including sex abuse."
CN's academic background is in theology (Oxford) and Law (Notre Dame). https://reginamag.com/saigon-surfing-beyond/
At 34:17 Christine Niles describes her work as follows:-
"I specialise in investigative reporting. I most especially specialise in exposing corruption and including sex abuse."
CN's academic background is in theology (Oxford) and Law (Notre Dame). https://reginamag.com/saigon-surfing-beyond/
3
She was admitted as an attorney to the Supreme Court of Indiana on 20th April 2007, and has worked as a law clerk at the Supreme Court of Indiana.
She is familiar with the laws of evidence, the need for confidentiality, and for the assessment of the credibility of witnesses.
She was admitted as an attorney to the Supreme Court of Indiana on 20th April 2007, and has worked as a law clerk at the Supreme Court of Indiana.
She is familiar with the laws of evidence, the need for confidentiality, and for the assessment of the credibility of witnesses.
4
In introducing the interview, CN says:-
“Clearly this grooming that took place with you involved a priest, Fr. D..”
This statement presents allegation as fact, discounts the need for evidence and assessment of JJ's credibility, and names the priest, prejudging the issue.
In introducing the interview, CN says:-
“Clearly this grooming that took place with you involved a priest, Fr. D..”
This statement presents allegation as fact, discounts the need for evidence and assessment of JJ's credibility, and names the priest, prejudging the issue.
5
Note the contradiction on CM's website.
The text refers to allegations of grooming, whereas in the video JJ's allegations are treated as fact, and she is described on-screen as a victim.
She should be described as a complainant, not a victim.
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/exclusive-interview-jassy-jacas
Note the contradiction on CM's website.
The text refers to allegations of grooming, whereas in the video JJ's allegations are treated as fact, and she is described on-screen as a victim.
She should be described as a complainant, not a victim.
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/exclusive-interview-jassy-jacas
6
Having prejudged the matter at the outset, it is no surprise that CN's conduct of the interview rides roughshod over the questioning techniques she would have learnt at law school. She makes statements in lieu of questions, and gives JJ free rein to recount hearsay.
Having prejudged the matter at the outset, it is no surprise that CN's conduct of the interview rides roughshod over the questioning techniques she would have learnt at law school. She makes statements in lieu of questions, and gives JJ free rein to recount hearsay.
7
At 5.35 JJ states that she saw a therapist, and it was through this person that she was put in touch with another of the therapist's clients who had made allegations about the same priest.
The observations made in this blog post are worth reading. https://questionsforcm.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/an-email-exchange/
At 5.35 JJ states that she saw a therapist, and it was through this person that she was put in touch with another of the therapist's clients who had made allegations about the same priest.
The observations made in this blog post are worth reading. https://questionsforcm.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/an-email-exchange/
8
CN accepts JJ's account without question, then interjects at 6:55:-
“So this is Hannah Merz.”
CN gives HM's name first, prompting JJ to launch into a minute and a half of hearsay.
At precisely the moment a court would tell a witness to stop, CN encourages JJ to continue.
CN accepts JJ's account without question, then interjects at 6:55:-
“So this is Hannah Merz.”
CN gives HM's name first, prompting JJ to launch into a minute and a half of hearsay.
At precisely the moment a court would tell a witness to stop, CN encourages JJ to continue.
9
JJ gives HM's account of her dealings with various priests. At 7:37 CN interjects:-
“So that was the first evidence you had that other SSPX priests knew about what Fr D was doing and they didn't want people talk about it.”
This is sensationalism. As a lawyer, CN knows...
JJ gives HM's account of her dealings with various priests. At 7:37 CN interjects:-
“So that was the first evidence you had that other SSPX priests knew about what Fr D was doing and they didn't want people talk about it.”
This is sensationalism. As a lawyer, CN knows...
10
hearsay is inadmissible as evidence.
HM's account consists of allegations against Fr D, whereas CN refers to "what Fr D was doing".
Only the priests referred to can attest as to what they knew or didn't know at any particular time.
hearsay is inadmissible as evidence.
HM's account consists of allegations against Fr D, whereas CN refers to "what Fr D was doing".
Only the priests referred to can attest as to what they knew or didn't know at any particular time.
11
JJ then continues with the hearsay, recounting the most salacious allegation of the whole interview.
It has to be assumed that this detail was given with the consent of HM. It is given as a taster for more graphic detail to follow, as JJ says HM didn't tell her everything.
JJ then continues with the hearsay, recounting the most salacious allegation of the whole interview.
It has to be assumed that this detail was given with the consent of HM. It is given as a taster for more graphic detail to follow, as JJ says HM didn't tell her everything.
12
CN promises viewers more at 8:32:-
“We're going to be talking to Hannah in more detail about that.”
Does this mean HM will appear in a video interview? In which case, she will have to repeat what JJ has already told us and provide more unsavoury detail.
CN promises viewers more at 8:32:-
“We're going to be talking to Hannah in more detail about that.”
Does this mean HM will appear in a video interview? In which case, she will have to repeat what JJ has already told us and provide more unsavoury detail.
13
JJ then tells of her dealings with SSPX priests, reporting her allegations to them.
CN's contributions now include rhetorical questions for effect, as at 11:08:-
"How could you not be necessary?" (JJ says she was told that she would not need to attend SSPX's investigation).
JJ then tells of her dealings with SSPX priests, reporting her allegations to them.
CN's contributions now include rhetorical questions for effect, as at 11:08:-
"How could you not be necessary?" (JJ says she was told that she would not need to attend SSPX's investigation).
14
CN appears to prompt JJ:-
At 9:44 - "Did he seem surprised at all?" (re reaction of a priest to her allegations)
And at 19:14 - "Was this in January 2020?" (re timing of events)
CN also enters the realms of conjecture, particularly evident in the following instances...
CN appears to prompt JJ:-
At 9:44 - "Did he seem surprised at all?" (re reaction of a priest to her allegations)
And at 19:14 - "Was this in January 2020?" (re timing of events)
CN also enters the realms of conjecture, particularly evident in the following instances...
15
Firstly, at 26:45:-
"But it sounds like they know there are other victims" (with emphasis on "are").
Secondly, after explaining at 28.05 that there is a pattern of priests accused of abuse being transferred, CN refers to Fr Wegner, SSPX USA District Superior...
Firstly, at 26:45:-
"But it sounds like they know there are other victims" (with emphasis on "are").
Secondly, after explaining at 28.05 that there is a pattern of priests accused of abuse being transferred, CN refers to Fr Wegner, SSPX USA District Superior...
16
At 29:00:-
CN "We have heard however that Fr Wegner is being transferred."
JJ "Yeah, August."
CN "OK. That's interesting."
Context, facial expressions and dramatic pause at this part of the interview invite the audience to infer that the transfer is part of a cover-up.
At 29:00:-
CN "We have heard however that Fr Wegner is being transferred."
JJ "Yeah, August."
CN "OK. That's interesting."
Context, facial expressions and dramatic pause at this part of the interview invite the audience to infer that the transfer is part of a cover-up.
17
At 32:30 CN refers to CM's letter to SSPX's lawyers:-
“they were very simple questions - for instance, did you launch an investigation into Fr D when HM came to you and when JJ came to you, yes or no? They refused to answer the question, because, you know, they didn't.”
At 32:30 CN refers to CM's letter to SSPX's lawyers:-
“they were very simple questions - for instance, did you launch an investigation into Fr D when HM came to you and when JJ came to you, yes or no? They refused to answer the question, because, you know, they didn't.”
18
It is quite extraordinary to see a lawyer criticise lawyers who quite correctly refuse to answer questions from the press, and also to publicly state that the refusal to answer of itself can only indicate one interpretation.
It is quite extraordinary to see a lawyer criticise lawyers who quite correctly refuse to answer questions from the press, and also to publicly state that the refusal to answer of itself can only indicate one interpretation.
19
JJ discusses her activity on social media, seeking other complainants against SSPX. At 31.20 CN asks:-
"Would you encourage others to continue to contact you?"
In her reply JJ refers to an agent being involved.
What sort of agent, employed by whom?
JJ discusses her activity on social media, seeking other complainants against SSPX. At 31.20 CN asks:-
"Would you encourage others to continue to contact you?"
In her reply JJ refers to an agent being involved.
What sort of agent, employed by whom?
20
At 33:18 JJ says:-
"I think the best outcome would be to clean house through the law system and get as many of them in jail and out of their positions..."
At 35:07 CN asks "What are you hoping out of all of this?"
JJ "I'm just going to do my best to expose what I know"
At 33:18 JJ says:-
"I think the best outcome would be to clean house through the law system and get as many of them in jail and out of their positions..."
At 35:07 CN asks "What are you hoping out of all of this?"
JJ "I'm just going to do my best to expose what I know"
21
JJ appears to consider her own and others' allegations as indisputable fact. CN appears to encourage this view, and is
giving the allegations maximum publicity.
If any of these allegations were to be proceeded with as prosecutions, Church Militant run the following risks...
JJ appears to consider her own and others' allegations as indisputable fact. CN appears to encourage this view, and is
giving the allegations maximum publicity.
If any of these allegations were to be proceeded with as prosecutions, Church Militant run the following risks...
22
CM could be seen as coaching witnesses and encouraging collusion between them.
JJ's social media activities, now advertised by CM, could be seen as a fishing expedition. (Victoria Police were rightly criticised for actively seeking complainants against Card. Pell).
CM could be seen as coaching witnesses and encouraging collusion between them.
JJ's social media activities, now advertised by CM, could be seen as a fishing expedition. (Victoria Police were rightly criticised for actively seeking complainants against Card. Pell).
23
The intense publicity generated by CM could prejudice the prospect of a fair trial in the event of a SSPX priest facing charges.
Have Church Militant not considered that their reporting tactics could easily undermine the justice that they profess to uphold?
The intense publicity generated by CM could prejudice the prospect of a fair trial in the event of a SSPX priest facing charges.
Have Church Militant not considered that their reporting tactics could easily undermine the justice that they profess to uphold?
