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Catholics for Choice Publishes Results of Four-Continent Poll Gauging Catholic Opinion on Hierarchy's Ban on Condoms
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Even in the face of an AIDS epidemic that costs millions of lives, the Vatican has stubbornly refused to lift its ban on condoms. A new multinational poll, however, shows that Catholics the world over believe that using condoms is prolife because it prevents the spread of HIV and AIDS.
According to the four-continent poll by Belden Russonello & Stewart, Catholics in Ghana, Ireland, Mexico, the Philippines and the United States support condom use overwhelmingly. When asked if "using condoms is prolife because it helps save lives by preventing the spread of AIDS," 90% of Catholics in Mexico, 86% in Ireland, 79% in the US, 77% in the Philippines and 59% in Ghana agreed.
Unfortunately, the Catholic hierarchy's position holds the most sway in the countries least able to deal economically and medically with the disease. Whereas Catholics in Ireland (79%), the US (63%) and Mexico (60%) overwhelmingly agreed that "the church's position on condoms is wrong and should be changed," the numbers for Catholics in the Philippines (47%) and Ghana (37%) were lower.
When questioned about the church's responsibility to help prevent the spread of AIDS in a health care context, 87% of Irish Catholics; 86% of Mexican Catholics; 73% of US Catholics; 65% of Filipino Catholics and 60% of Ghanaian Catholics believe "Catholic hospitals and clinics that the government funds should be required to include condoms as parts of AIDS prevention."
Jon O'Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, commented: "From Mexico City to Manila and Accra to Los Angeles, Catholics know that using condoms is prolife. More and more bishops and priests have been speaking out against the Vatican's opposition to condoms. This is a battle with very high stakes. Every day, more people are infected and die. While Catholics recognize that the hierarchy's position is wrong, it would help significantly if the Vatican came out and supported the use of condoms. There are substantial theological grounds -- and even more humanitarian and compassionate grounds -- to change this policy. It is high time for that change to happen."
To see the complete poll, and learn more about the Condoms4Life campaign: www.catholicsforchoice.org and www.condoms4life.org.
Source: Catholics for Choice
Web Site: www.catholicsforchoice.org
www.condoms4life.org
HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit have arrested a moving company executive from Virginia accused of using hidden Internet chat rooms to sexually proposition what he believed was a 13-year old girl, as well as sending sexually explicit and pornographic webcam videos to the girl. The "girl" was actually an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit, who was using the online profile of a child.
Corbett identified the defendant as Glenn P. Stephens, 52, 129 Harrison St., NE, Leesburg, Virginia. Stephens is the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice-President of Capital Relocation Services, a Virginia-based transportation and storage company.
Corbett explained that the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit was created in January 2005 to conduct proactive undercover investigations in order to identify and capture Internet predators before they can harm children. To date, the unit has arrested 111 Internet predators from Pennsylvania and several other states.
According to the criminal complaint, Stephens, using the name "Gene Grant," initially approached an undercover agent in July 2007 using a hidden Internet chat room which has been used by predators arrested in previous investigations by the Child Predator Unit.
Corbett said that Stephens allegedly began questioning the girl about her sexual experience within moments of their initial contact, and quickly offered to "teach" her about sex, asking her, "wouldn't ya like to be first time with an older patient man who can teach ya everything?" This discussion occurred after the undercover agent had clearly indicated that she was a 13-year old girl from the Pittsburgh area.
According to the criminal charges, Stephens frequently expressed a desire to instruct the girl about sex, telling her, "I would teach you everything about sex... all the positions... how to give real pleasure to a man and how to get pleasure and really enjoy sex."
Corbett said that Stephens told the child that he lived in Virginia, about three hours away from Pittsburgh, but allegedly emphasized his desire to meet her, commenting, "I would fly across the country to be with you, so you are really close as far as I'm concerned."
According to the criminal complaint, Stephens engaged in a series of online and email exchanges with the child between July and October 2007, graphically describing the sex acts he wished to engage in. He also allegedly asked the girl if she had ever used marijuana, adding, "maybe sometime we will, after you learn about sex."
Corbett said that Stephens allegedly sent the girl a series of Internet links to sexually graphic online videos, and directed her to view them. Afterward, he allegedly told her, "it is something you can really learn to do real good... I'd love to teach you."
According to the criminal complaint, Stephens continued to express a desire to meet the girl in Pittsburgh, but explained that scheduling a meeting would be difficult because he was traveling extensively on business.
Corbett said that Stephens allegedly continued to contact the child while in California and Illinois, at one point sending her a live webcam video of himself masturbating - supposedly from his hotel suite in Chicago.
Corbett said that agents from the Child Predator Unit worked closely with the Virginia State Police and Loudoun County Virginia Sheriff's Office to monitor Stephens' home and office, and verify when he had returned from his most recent business trip.
Stephens was arrested at his office in Leesburg, Virginia, on Monday, Dec. 3, 2007, by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, based on information provided by the Child Predator Unit. Stephens waived extradition in Virginia and was transported to Pennsylvania on Wednesday, December 5th, where he was lodged in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 11, 2007, at 8:30 a.m., in Pittsburgh Municipal Court.
Corbett said that a search warrant was executed a Stephens' home by the Loudoun County Sheriff's office, resulting in the seizure of two laptop computers, a desktop computer, a webcam, data storage devices and several photos which were allegedly sent to the "child" during the course of the undercover investigation. In addition, a laptop computer was recovered from Stephens' employer. Those items will be analyzed by the Attorney General's Computer Forensics Unit as part of an ongoing investigation.
Corbett said that Stephens is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor (obscene or sexual materials of performances), two counts of attempted obscene or sexual performances and two counts of criminal use of a computer. All of those charges are third-degree felonies, which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.
Stephens will be prosecuted in Allegheny County by Deputy Attorney General William F. Caye II of the Attorney General's Child Predator unit.
Corbett thanked the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, Criminal Investigative Division (Leesburg) and the Virginia State Police for their cooperation and extensive assistance with this investigation.
Child Predator Unit
The Attorney General's Child Predator Unit was created in January 2005 to conduct proactive undercover investigations to identify and capture Internet predators before they can harm children.
Corbett explained that many Internet predators launch into sexually explicit conversations during their first online conversations, adding that it has become increasingly common for predators to send nude photos or webcam videos within minutes of contacting what they believe are teenage girls or boys.
"Internet predators are stalking online chat rooms and social networking sites every day, looking for children who are trusting, naive or vulnerable enough to respond to contact from strangers," Corbett said. "It is essential that parents discuss online hazards with their children, and contact authorities in situations where their children are sexually propositioned or receive sexually graphic photos or videos from adults who approach them online."
Corbett encouraged parents to discuss Internet safety with their children, including the danger of meeting strangers who approach them online. Additionally, he urged parents to report predators who attempt to sexually solicit children or send graphic photos and videos.
Internet predators can be reported to the Child Predator Unit by calling 1-800-385-1044, or online at www.attorneygeneral.gov. Detailed information about Internet safety is also available in the "Operation Safe Surf" and "just 4 Kids" sections of the Attorney General's website.
(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)
Source: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
Web Site: http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Rena J. Comisac, U.S. Attorney Reginald I. Lloyd of the District of South Carolina, and U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert of the Western District of North Carolina, announced that Jesus Perez-Laguna, 36, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Columbia, S.C., for his role in a multi-state sex trafficking ring involving at least one minor. Perez-Laguna is one of three defendants named in a superseding indictment filed in Columbia last month following a federal sex trafficking investigation, and he pled guilty to three counts of a multi- count indictment charging him and others with organized sex trafficking. Perez-Laguna also pleaded guilty to a single-count information charging him with sex trafficking of a child in the Western District of North Carolina.
During his guilty plea hearing, Perez-Laguna admitted that he conspired with others to knowingly transport a 14-year-old girl across the border between the United States and Mexico and the border between North Carolina and South Carolina in order for the minor to engage in prostitution. Additionally, Perez-Laguna admitted that he harbored illegal aliens for the purpose of prostitution.
"Through this guilty plea, the defendant has been held to answer for exploiting a teenage girl. The Department of Justice will work tirelessly to rescue victims of human trafficking and ensure that those who engage in this deplorable conduct are brought to justice," said Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Rena J. Comisac.
"The Justice Department takes these charges very seriously and is committed to prosecuting those who exploit young women in this manner," added U.S. Attorney Reginald I. Lloyd.
"The exploitation of vulnerable women and children is intolerable in a civilized society. Sexual predators who violate federal law will be dealt with severely," said U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert.
Perez-Laguna's co-defendant, Ciro Bustos-Rosales, pleaded guilty to related charges on Sept. 5, 2007. A third co-defendant, Guadalupe Reyes- Rivera, a.k.a. "Mama Martina," is a fugitive.
Human trafficking prosecutions are a top priority of the Department of Justice. In the last six fiscal years, the Civil Rights Division, in conjunction with U.S. Attorneys' Offices, has increased by six-fold the number of human trafficking cases filed in court.
The case was investigated by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and investigators with the Columbia (S.C.) Police Department. This case is being jointly prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark C. Moore and Tara L. McGregor of the District of South Carolina, Kimlani M. Ford and Kenneth M. Smith of the Western District of North Carolina, and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Ryan R. McKinstry.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/
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