Summary

UPDATED FROM LAST NIGHT'S CONUS NATIONAL FEED ON THE PRIEST BUSTED BY AUTHORITIES IN A STING OPERATION AFTER THE PRIEST THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO MEET A 13 YEAR OLD BOY HE MET ON THE INTERNET FOR SEX.

Source CONUS Archive
Record ID 22997
Story Slug PRIEST CYBER SEX FOLLOW (02/12/1997)
Location CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
Format PKG (YEST)
Date 02/12/1997
Archive Time 9:20
TRT 1:43
Supers CLEARWATER, FLORIDA BISHOP JOHN NEVINS, DIOCESE OF VENICE THOMAS KOPIAN, TAMPA BAY CATHOLIC LIBBY VASICEK, TAMPA BAY CATHOLIC KATHY RICHTER, REPORTING
Video Description MUG, SEIZED ITEMS ON TABLE, CROSS, SOT, MAGAZINES, CONDOMS, ETC, STANDUP, SOT, PHOTO, PHOTO, PHOTO, CROSS ON CHURCH, SOT, GRAPHIC
Description UPDATED FROM LAST NIGHT'S CONUS NATIONAL FEED ON THE PRIEST BUSTED BY AUTHORITIES IN A STING OPERATION AFTER THE PRIEST THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO MEET A 13 YEAR OLD BOY HE MET ON THE INTERNET FOR SEX.
Script LEAD: Tonight is the Eve of Lent. It's one of the most holy of Christian seasons. And Catholics in the Bay Area are getting another test of principles..another priest is accused of breaking the law. Reporter Kathy Richter tells us how it's shaking the faithful. (Take Pkg) SCRIPT: Father Jeremiah Spillane became the latest arrest in an undercover internet operation. Clearwater police caught Spillane with condoms, lubricants, rubber gloves, magazines of naked young men, and a sexual device. Detectived Chuck Esposito pretended to be a 13 year old boy on the internet and lured the priest from his Sarasota parish to Clearwater for an alleged sexual rendezvous. SOT In September Father Patrick Clarke of Safety Harbor revealed that he was secretly married. Also in September Father Simeon Gardner of Lutz resigned after admitting he stole more than 200,000 dollars from the church to pay off a male lover who was blackmailing him. In October Father William Lau of St. Petersburg enrolled in a sexual treatment center after a parishioner claimed the priest made sexual advances toward him years ago. Priest scandals can be disconcerting, but tomorrow on Ash Wednesday Catholics will try to concentrate on their faith, not the men who administer it. OUTCUE: The church has placed Father Spillane on administrative leave and taken away his ability to lead a congregation in the diocese of Venice. Spillane is out of jail on bond as of yesterday. END
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