Expect the Unexpected

     In The Los Angeles Times, Rick Rojas posts an article called, “O.C. priest will spend year in jail for molesting boy in 1990s” about a retired Roman Catholic priest in Orange County was arrested and put in jail for a year. The article was published on August 24, 2012. He was mandatory registered as a sex offender, and he was obligated to complete 400 hours of community service. Denis Lyons, a 78 year old retired Roman Catholic priest, admit to sexually assaulting a child under fourteen years old at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Costa Mesa. The molestation took place when the boy was between seven to nine years old, between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 1995. The priest molested the boy four times in the church, which is supposed to be a holy room. The victim filed a report in September 2008 and Denis Lyons got arrested in July 2009 while playing cards.” Today is the day I finally have closure. I have spent 16 years living in pain, living in shame. He took away my innocence as a child. This man has ruined my life and many others besides me. He has changed my perception of religion, life, and right and wrong. Him pleading guilty not only gives me closure but gives other victims closure as well. He is a bad person, a bad man." Lyons had been charged in 2003 for molesting another boy during the times of 1978-1981, but the accusations never led to anything because a lot of time had passed between the event and the complaint. It is very upsetting how one can do such an act. This article should send a message to all that think nothing can happen to their child at a “trusted” place. A priest, who preached to others about doing the honorable, molested a child which is one of the most dishonorable sins. Priests expect everyone to attend the holy church and accomplish what they preach, but how can one not lose faith after being sexually assaulted by a priest?