Official Court Dismissal of the Charges Against Fr. Joseph

Docket Entry Re Fr Joseph

SNAP's Libelous Press Release

"Finally, we urge Archbishop Robert Carlson to insist that Fr. Jiang turn over his passport to him while the civil case proceeds, so that Fr. Jiang doesn’t flee overseas, as dozens of child molesting clerics have done. We are very fearful that Fr. Jiang will hop on the next plane home to China or elsewhere and continue molesting girls for years to come."http://www.snapnetwork.org/mo_criminal_charges_v_priest_tossed_out_but_civil_case_v_him_proceeds

Accusers need to do the right thing!

We had a busy day last Friday with the dismissal of the criminal charges against Father Joseph. Of course the dismissal did not come as complete surprise since no real case against Father ever existed. The judge and prosecutor also came to see that the case had to be dumped. The judge pointed out that Father had never been alone with the girl, a common sense reason all could easily understand. We expect the civil litigation against Father to meet the same fate.

On Friday afternoon, we sent an e-mail out to all Friends of Fr. Joseph inviting all to celebrate at our house. I don't know how many showed up, but our place was packed and Father Joseph attended as well. He thanked all who had stood by him and prayed for him. He spoke of the Dark Night of the Soul and the sufferings so his beloved St. Therese. He told us that his own sufferings would in the end make him a more devoted and stronger priest.

Of course, all this will never be over until those who have falsely accused Father publicly clear his name. To not publicly speak the truth about Father would be a grave sin on their part. We pray that the accusers, whoever they are, and those who know the truth, have the courage to finally do the right thing.

Lucy and Bill Hannegan
314.367.3779
314.315.3779(cell)

Criminal Charges Against Fr. Joseph Dismissed!

On Channel 2:
http://fox2now.com/2013/11/22/judge-throws-out-child-endangerment-charge-against-priest/

On KMOX:
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2013/11/22/charges-dropped-against-st-louis-priest-accused-of-molestation/

In the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/criminal-charges-dropped-against-st-louis-priest/article_457a2e67-b367-5432-9bf2-dd9295ed7f03.html

In the St. Louis Review:
http://stlouisreview.com/article/2013-11-22/criminal-charges

David Clohessy Continues to Be Wrong

David Clohessy continues to be wrong on the situation of Fr. Joseph and Archbishop Carlson. From his Post op-ed today:

"In St. Louis, Archbishop Robert Carlson dodged a bullet when the criminal trial of Father Joseph Jiang, who faces charges of molesting a girl last summer, was postponed. Carlson was deposed by prosecutors about the case, and a civil abuse and cover-up case against Fr. Jiang charges Carlson with evidence tampering. (The archbishop reportedly asked the alleged victim’s parents to give him a $20,000 check that the accused priest left with the family after he supposedly admitted molesting the girl.)"
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/in-rome-hopeful-signs-in-the-us-not-so-much/article_5d850f43-6fba-5cf7-a7ac-6321b78a4255.html

Archbishop Carlson didn't dodge a bullet. Rather he lost a chance for the truth to come out in court. The day both Archbishop Carlson and Fr. Joseph are exonerated will eventually arrive!

Bowling Green Times ReportsTrial Delayed

http://www.bowlinggreentimes.com/?p=10414

Fr. Joseph's Trial Tomorrow

Tomorrow Fr. Joseph Jiang finally has his day in court. Friends of Fr. Joseph will be there, believing in his full innocence and praying for his complete exoneration. Our hope is that he will be restored to his former role as priest with his reputation unstained and all charges against him shown to be false.

RFT Best Gadfly of 2013 Takes Up Fr. Joseph's Cause

The RFT named my husband Bill the Best St. Louis Gadfly in today's issue. The short article mentioned Bill's defense of Father and his strong belief in his innocence.
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/bestof/2013/award/best-gadfly-2065173/

Fr. Joseph Jiang Is Innocent!

As Fr. Joseph's  trial date draws near, we remain absolutely convinced of his total innocence. We will attend his trial and pray for his full exoneration.

Father's trial is still October 1st at 15 W. Church St., Bowling Green, MO  63334. Please attend if you possibly can!

Challenge For Kevin O'Brien

In a July 19th blog post,"Fantasy vs. Reality among Super-Catholics",  Kevin O'Brien claimed we know some things about the Fr. Joseph case for "certain".  One of the established facts claimed by Kevin particularly troubles us:

 "The parents became concerned about inappropriate contact between the priest and their 15-year-old daughter - stroking, physical displays of affection.  When they confronted the priest about this, he stopped seeing the family, asked for a transfer from St. Louis for "personal reasons", but eventually ingratiated himself back into the family, visiting them frequently."

http://thwordinc.blogspot.com/2013/07/fantasy-vs-reality-among-super-catholics.html

 

 

We wish to challenge Kevin on this "fact". Is it established by anything beyond the claims of the accusing girl and her family?

Archbishop Carlson denies allegation today!

The RFT reports this morning that Archbishop Carlson has "filed a formal response to the suit, asking the courts to dismiss it, arguing that neither he nor the Archdiocese of St. Louis is liable."
http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2013/08/archbishop_robert_carlson_sex_abuse_motion_dismiss.php

In his response, Archbishop Carlson "vehemently denies" one of the allegations made by the accusing family. If that allegation is false, aren't all their allegations called into question?

Great point by Jimmie Smooth

The strongest evidence that anyone has brought up thus far against Fr. Joseph is the twenty thousand dollar check. Without that check I don't think there would be much of a case. However, if I were in his shoes, I can understand giving that check (if he did). If I had been close friends with a family for a while, and they accused me in private of molesting their teenage daughter when I hadn't, I would be very nervous. Even if I had done nothing, all they have to do is say that I touched her inappropriately, and all of society would turn on me as child molester. Everyone here attacking Fr. Joseph proves that one false allegation can destroy a man's reputation and life. They wouldn't need to prove anything. They merely need to claim it. What if the family who accused me said that all they wanted was money (to pay for the psychiatrist of course)? I can see giving them a $20,000 check and telling them to leave me alone. The check does not prove his guilt. It may simply prove that he did not want the false accusations brought to the public. That is reasonable, because as his attackers have shown, the public does not care for justice; they want a scapegoat to persecute. I know I would not trust the public to bring justice if a family falsely accused me, why should he trust them either?

http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/editorial-omitted-significant-allegations-in-priest-s-sex-abuse-case/article_a160c373-7f43-5f60-969f-18b356d92fad.html?mode=comments

Did attorney Ken Chackes cross a line?

Did yesterday's accusatory letter against Fr. Joseph in the Post-Dispatch cross a line? Is it legal for attorney Ken Chackes to influence public opinion in this way?

In the comments section of the article, Kevin Kestner raised a telling point:

 

Rule 4-3.6 Trial Publicity - (a) A lawyer who is participating or has participated in the investigation or litigation of a matter shall not make an extrajudicial statement that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know will be disseminated by means of public communication and will have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding in the matter. I would hope the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel would apply this rule to this lawyer, it seems like a textbook example of what NOT to do. If Fr. Chiang is guilty he wil be determined as such by a jury of his peers, trying your civil case in public during the pendency of the criminal case is nothing more than an ambulance chasing, jury pool contaminating move.

The attorney suing Archbishop Carlson issues a challenge in the Post-Dispatch

I have to wonder if Ken Chackes is bluffing in hopes the Church will buckle under the pressure and settle. Likely those e-mails and texts don't amount to much.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/editorial-omitted-significant-allegations-in-priest-s-sex-abuse-case/article_a160c373-7f43-5f60-969f-18b356d92fad.html

Seeing Father this past week reminds me of how important our work is.  His spiritual conversations are inspiring and encouraging to me.  He offers all this humiliation to Jesus for our intentions.  I in turn tell him that we are offering our own trials for his intentions.  The mystical body of Christ at work!  I have often told him that we don't do this just for him, but to defend our Holy Mother the Church and our innocent priests. He realizes that he is nothing special and is eternally grateful for his friends who support him.  God bless you!  Lucy

Great article about Friends of Fr. Joseph Today

"We believe in Father Joseph's innocence," says Lucy Hannegan, who created the Friends of Fr. Joseph Jiang website. "We don't want to see him tried and convicted in the court of public opinion."

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2013/07/father_joseph_jiang_supporters_website_archdiocese.php#Comments

Post Editorial Board Pessures Archbishop Carlson Today!

http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/editorial-the-archbishop-should-explain-actions-in-case-against-accused/article_1019c146-1993-5aca-8057-74b1ffcbb416.html

SNAP in Action Today

Accusations against Father Joseph Jiang Listed

Petition

On July 17 the River Front Times featured this story after I spoke to Sam Levin, the writer of their first story about Father.  I called him to give him another side of the story.

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2013/07/archdiocese_st_louis_father_joseph_jiang.php

AP story today

The AP picked up the story about Father Joseph. The article restates the implausible accusations against both Fr. Joseph and Archbishop Carlson contained in the lawsuit. Judy Jones is challenged in the comments by Bill Hannegan: "Do you really believe Carlson would say that? Doesn't that make you question the story a bit?"

http://www.stltoday.com/news/state-and-regional/missouri/suit-archbishop-tried-to-tamper-in-abuse-case/article_7df607ff-b742-5d10-9e5a-9721ab6002e2.html

The Archdiocese has responded to the new lawsuit against Archbishop Carlson:

"We have now seen a copy of the lawsuit. These new allegations against the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Archbishop Carlson are false and will be denied in an answer to the lawsuit filed in court."
http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/388698/3/Lawsuit-filed-in-connection-to-accused-priest

As soon as I heard about the allegations of sexual conduct against Father Joseph I decided to form a group of friends that would support him. We began to pray for him and his accuser and her family.  We prayed for everyone involved in his case.  And we held holy hours to pray for him, and offered novenas and spiritual bouquets.  Now with more allegations flying around and Archbishop Carlson being named in a suit, we decided to form this blog to stand firm as laity supporting our Church leaders.
Lucy Hannegan