A Troubled Senator Twists in the Wind; A Stirring Plains Comeback; Hacking Away at the iPhone; Facing Up to Troubling Memories; Cover Up Your Underwear or Else
Facing Up to Troubling Memories
Msgr. Othmar Schroeder died 19 years ago. Now, many residents of Jasper, Ind., hope his 50-year legacy in this tight-knit German-Catholic community dies too. Last week, Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger announced that Schroeder was believed to have sexually molested parish boys, and he called for the town's many remembrances of Schroeder to be removed. That would include taking down photos in the churches and renaming the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus. Gettelfinger said he knew of allegations years ago but learned of the full scope of Schroeder's wrongdoing only last month.
For many in this town of 12,000 about 40 miles northeast of Evansville, Schroeder was a beloved leader who helped found a school and a Boy Scout troop. For his victims, the many reminders and celebrations of Schroeder around town were a haunting source of both anxiety and anger. To date, no lawsuits have been filed against the diocese, and no victims have come forward publicly. Nevertheless, Gettelfinger insists the abuse occurred. Schroeder's actions aren't "ancient history" for victims, said Gettelfinger at a recent mass. "The pain they are experiencing is still very real."
Cover Up Your Underwear or Else
Is it a crackdown when you want cracks covered up? Last week, councilman Alvin O'Neal of Stratford, Conn., proposed a $250 fine for people whose baggy pants reveal underwear—or more. That idea was rejected, but similar proposals are under consideration in Atlanta and Shreveport, La. And Delcambre, La., made headlines earlier this year for penalizing saggers with a fine of up to $500 or six months in jail. The uproar has sparked a backlash among civil rights groups who say such measures infringe on freedom of expression and target minority youth, among whom the baggy-pants style is most popular. Carol Broussard, mayor of Delcambre, says the rule isn't discriminatory and protects the public from displays of indecency.
With Bret Schulte and Alison Go
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