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I agree with Beuchel's letter. As a witness to the community's behavior in what should not be known as the "Duke rape case" but as the "Duke attempt to frame innocent young men" case, I became shockingly aware that most of us leap to personal conclusions when others are accused of actions we abhore. I actually heard colleagues say things like "I KNOW they must have done SOMETHING," and the District Attorney himself in that case seems to have allowed his personal feelings of resentment against a "privileged group" to obscure his professional judgement. I am disappointed that Salon.com published this story. It is mostly innuendo, even though the writers, toward the very end of the article, produce two counter-witnesses to refute the one direct accusation that is quoted. It is just possible that "Priest F" (who the writers do not prove was Placa) was working with full integrity to provide a just process for accused clergy, rather than yielding to mass hysteria. It is understandable that some aggrieved parents would see this as obstructive behavior, but that is opinion, not fact. I do not defend the actions of ANY proven child-molesters, but I do defend the right of anyone ACCUSED of ANY crime to be considered innocent until proven guilty. I am not a Guiliani fan, but I have to respect him for standing by the Constitution and the rights it guarantees all of us, including Mr. Placa. Not many politicians would do that these days!
