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Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Youth Pastor Watch

posted by on October 17 at 11:14 AM

Christopher Paul Neil is “the world’s most-wanted pedophile.” He’s the creep that posted hundreds of images online of himself abusing boys; the boys’ faces were clearly shown, Neil’s face was digitally scrambled. Police were able to unscramble his face and identify Neil—and now we’re learning all sorts of interesting things about his past. Like the fact that he was seminarian and a youth pastor of sorts in British Columbia before becoming a fugitive.

The school’s website Tuesday morning listed Neil as a Grade 7-8 history teacher, with a degree from The Seminary of Christ the King, in Mission, B.C. His name has since been removed from the school’s website.

Archdiocese of Vancouver spokesperson Paul Schratz confirmed that Neil studied at the seminar. “He apparently left at some point when he was not invited to continue his studies for the priesthood,” Schratz told CTV British Columbia. The school’s rector is quoted as saying Neil did not have the qualifications to be recommended for the priesthood.

Yeah, good pedophile priests are made of stealthier stuff—they can for decades without being caught. Still, despite not being invited to continue his studies, Neil was allowed to help other Catholics—underage Catholics—with their studies:

Neil then shifted his focus to teaching and began volunteering at St. Patrick’s Catholic parish six years ago.

“He at some point did some volunteer catechism instruction in the parish—so he would be working with students, preparing them for the preparation of the sacraments, their religious education, that sort of thing,” Schratz added.

But let’s not talk about the creepy pedophile we sent to work with your kids! Let’s talk about JP2 appearing to us in a campfire! Look over there—it’s a miracle!

RSS icon Comments

1

If something good happens, God did it. If something bad happens, God moves in mysterious ways. If something appears to resemble a dead Pope, it's a miracle.

Being retarded must be so much fun! You have an excuse for everything!

Posted by Mr. Poe | October 17, 2007 11:21 AM
2

Ugh. As if it wasn't bad enough for those boys to be abused and (privately) humiliated. That asshole also had to post their pictures and offer them up for public humiliation as well. What a sick, sick fuck.

Posted by keshmeshi | October 17, 2007 11:22 AM
3

So you're saying that a pedophile was attracted to, and sought out, positions where he could be in contact with children? Say it ain't so.

Posted by Greg | October 17, 2007 11:34 AM
4

Flames are pretty. I love fire. I could watch magical fire popes all day long.

Posted by Michigan Matt | October 17, 2007 11:44 AM
5

Agree with Greg. SHOCKING that pedophiles flock to jobs that allow them proximity to children.

Posted by Dianna | October 17, 2007 1:10 PM
6

I've even heard that some teachers have been accused of pedophilia. SHOCKING.

Posted by getacluedan | October 17, 2007 1:17 PM
7

You know, it's really quite fascinating that the police were able to unscramble the digitized swirl of his face in those pedo pics. I imagine that they reversed an algorithm. Now I guess criminals will just remove the pixels of their faces since the cat is out of the bag on that one.

Posted by raindrop | October 17, 2007 1:41 PM
8

Check out the rector's response, as reported by David Lohr at crimelibrary.com:

Christopher Neil was a history student at the Seminary of Christ the King in Mission, B.C. in the 1990s, but it was recommended he not go on to the priesthood, the school's rector says, because he lacked the necessary personal qualifications.

"'I'm not saying anything further,' said Rev. Nicholas Ruh. 'It's too delicate.'"

Too delicate for what? The Seminary's reputation? I'd like to know what they're hiding.

Posted by Irena | October 17, 2007 9:25 PM
9

I'd like to know what they're hiding.

I don't know about Canada, but in this country your school records are confidential. Would you like to have that D minus in gym printed in the newspaper?

Posted by academic probation | October 18, 2007 9:40 AM
10

@9, let's remember who we're talking about. In Dan's words, "Christopher Paul Neil is “the world’s most-wanted pedophile.” He's the creep that posted hundreds of images online of himself abusing boys; the boys’ faces were clearly shown."

And your biggest concern is his right to keep his school records confidential?

Posted by Irena | October 18, 2007 11:30 AM
11

i hope they catch him as soon as possible. that said, uh, yeah, i hope they don't violate anybody's rights in order to do so. i do not like idea of forfeiting rights to catch predators or terrorists. now, if they are hiding something else... then that's a different story.

Posted by infrequent | October 18, 2007 12:34 PM
12

"i do not like idea of forfeiting rights to catch predators or terrorists."

When you put it that way, I have to say I agree with you.

Posted by Irena | October 18, 2007 1:14 PM

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