You might think Catholic priest pedophiles would have all the access to victims their religiously twisted hearts would desire through the church, but why stop there?
Reports claim that an Italian bishop aided and abetted a pedophile priest by telling him to avoid police and ignored evidence that the priest was using Grindr to meet teenage boys.
The priest, Antonello Tropea, 44, was arrested after an investigation uncovered his Grindr account was being used to lure underage boys, whom he then had sexual relations with in his car or his rectory in Calabria.
Suspicions were raised initially when Tropea was discovered with a teen in his car in a remote location. At the time, Tropea claimed to be the boyâs P.E. teacher, but reports say he had âsuspicious objectsâ in his rucksack. No word on what those objects were, which seems awfully ambiguous.
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The subsequent investigation revealed the bishopâs role in covering the crimes up.
According to La Repubblica newspaper, the two-month probe also found that Tropea picked up boys on Grindr under the name Nicola, the same name as the patron saint of his parish in Messignadi in southern Italy, San Nicola di Mira.
Kangol
Fr. Nicola only wanted to share the Holy Tongue and Blessed Booty and lay on his (unclean) hands and anoint them with the sacred you-know-what, that’s all. /snark
Now and the Bishop who aided and abetted his ephebophilia should be locked away for a long, long time!
Greg Ballard
Ewwwwwwwwww
Nathaniel McManus
Forgive me, Father, I have been filthy! Mmmm….
Peter Waldran
Spreading his gospel? That’s what we’re calling it these days?
Dennis Gordon
Disgusting
jud
why is this a surprise? why is this news?
The shock is that anyone in his right mind would think that this was unusual!
Joe Eugene
Underage boys being on Grindr is a good argument for lowering the age of consent. It’s 16 in a lot of western nations. I’ve known several under-18 guys who’d do almost anything to have sex with an adult.
David G. Abler
Dan… has this made it into the Italian news?
Marcus A. Moutra
Sickening
Scribe38
@Joe Eugene: How about letting teens be teens and not banging them? Predatory gay MEN, should go directly to jail for knowingly sleeping with underage KIDS.
alphacentauri
@jud: Exactly.
@Scribe38: Well said. I’m not surprised Joe Eugene is a chickenhawk.
alphacentauri
@David G. Abler: Yes. http://www.nextquotidiano.it/don-antonello-tropea-il-prete-pedofilo-coperto-dal-vescovo/
Giancarlo85
https://youtu.be/8r-e2NDSTuE
He said it all.
Giancarlo85
Oops… let me try that again (hope it embeds)…
https://youtu.be/8r-e2NDSTuE
WanderSon66
Since I find it hard to believe that a 44-year old man could pass as a teenager and thereby trick the teens into liasons, it clearly must be that the priest forced these teens to join Grindr and then to look for hook-ups.
youarekiddingme
Let’s see, our last little catholic scandal was the piece of shit priest who stole over $1 million dollars from over 10 different Parish’s so he could pay male hookers for sex! Now there’s this little gem! If there’s a more fucked up religion on the planet (I don’t count westboro baptist…they’re a family cult), I can’t think of one!
@Joe Eugene: You look like a typical troll that would hide behind a tree and grab little boys…Are you sure you’re not a catholic priest in hiding? What a remark to make! Under 18 kids wanting to have sex with an adult? What, like you? Hahahahhahaha! I couldn’t stand looking at that profile pic too long. I’m going blind!!
Try having sex with someone your own age huh? Oh, let me guess…anyone your age wouldn’t have you!
ChrisDoodie Kromm
This app should just disappear… #Notworthanyonestime
Tracy Pope
@WanderSon66: Oh. Well… Since you put it that way then I guess it’s okay that a 44 year old had sex with a teenager. Now it makes perfect sense.
Or in other words — Are you effing nuts? Or just incredibly stupid?
Tobi
“At the time, Tropea claimed to be the boyâs P.E. teacher, but reports say he had âsuspicious objectsâ in his rucksack. No word on what those objects were, which seems awfully ambiguous.
Lubricating gel, wipes, tissues and a roll of paper.
@Joe Eugene: The age of consent in Italy is 14 so the victims had to be younger.
Morten Jensen
Cannot see the problem here. (Besides parents now knowing what their kids are doing) The age of consent in Italy is 14. – he did not force any. – he broke a church rule, – that is a problem with his employer.
So i am having some trouble seeing why he was arrested, and how this is a crime.
You can debate whether og not it is in bad taste or not. – but if the age of consent is 14. Then… Well. The law is not broken.
Giancarlo85
@Morten Jensen: Terrible post. The age of consent may be that, but his actions could have been illegal under a different law. And while countries may have age of consent at 14, they also have laws preventing someone under the age of 18 from having sex with someone far older (says perhaps if the age gap is more than three or five years). Anyways he was arrested because he did in fact break laws.
Michael Claypoole
So the Catholic church has finally came into the 21st century.
Aromaeus
I will never get the appeal of boys or men who look(or are) like they are still going through puberty.
youarekiddingme
@Morten Jensen: Then YOU are the one with the problem! Can you tell that almost everyone else here sees the problem? How about the position of AUTHORITY that this man has over this child? It’s a bit different than an ordinary man and young person. This is about a trusted man of God and a child. This is not his “employer”…He is not a garage mechanic. This “priest” holds a special bond of trust within the community. He should be held to a HIGHER standard, not a normal standard.
You assume much. How do you know the child he had sex with was only 14? Since he was arrested in a country where the age of consent is 14, it was probably with a child who was UNDER 14. The police arrest on laws (not church rules), so he obviously broke the law (which is 14…thanks for telling us), and that’s why he’s under arrest.
Finally, you sound much like Joe Eugene. Trolling for victims who are children instead of looking for men who are your own age. Grow up and date those who are your own age. People like you and Joe Eugene give gay men a bad reputation!
WanderSon66
Actually, people, the age of consent in Italy is 16 if the adult has influence over the child…like if he’s a priest. Aside from that, it’s OK in Italy if a 14 year old joins Grindr and looks for hook-ups with adults. according to Wikipedia.org
youarekiddingme
@WanderSon66: Exactly…sick either way!!
Tobi
@youarekiddingme: It always amazes me that Americans sexualise children but infantise adults. I’ve had shedloads of sex with 13-15 year olds. I also happened to be the same age at the time. I was out clubbing by the time I was 15, and grateful that older guys back then didn’t ask too many questions, given that the age of consent when I was 15 was 21. You’ll find that all European countries now have an age of consent between 14-16 and amazingly the world hasn’t ended. In fact, in my lifetime you used to be able to get married in the US at 14, still can with parental consent in some states I believe? It’s ridiculous to force young sexually-ready adults to wait until they’re 18. It’s also beyond belief that 18 year olds can and do end up getting gaoled for sleeping with their 17 year old partners.
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: Actually if you check the map attached to the following https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_consent You’ll see that the age of consent though most of Europe appears to be 16. Regardless, the laws usually regard consent between individuals close in age. There is almost always a provision against someone older/in a position of power over the juvenile. The laws in most of these countries (according to the article) are not black and white, but there are gray areas that do cover age differences between participants. You will also see that there are some countries where the law regarding consent = marriage. This is a “moral” issue to this day. The standards of the community have decided what the law should be (as how all laws are developed). These laws have certainly evolved over ancient times and are still developing today.
Yes, there are “statutory rape” laws in some states in this country. There are laws that protect 17 year olds from 18 year olds. It’s a legal “boundary” drawn by the confines of the law. How many cases are brought before the courts each year? Probably very few. How many are prosecuted? Even fewer. Letter of the law vs intent of the law…
Sexually-ready? Some children are “sexually-ready” (having secondary sexual characteristics) at 9 years old. I would say your argument on sexually-ready is full of holes. Sexually-ready is not emotionally ready. Children need to be aware of STD’s, pregnancy, HIV and a whole host of other ramifications before being ready to have sex…especially with an adult.
I agree that the laws will probably change on the age of consent (and maybe go down), but the boundaries on age differences/positions of authority need to be much more strict. Too much room for abuse. Too much room for pedophiles. I have nieces and nephews in that age range and would me mortified if some old troll tried to have sex with them (even if it were legal). I think you would feel the same.
Giancarlo85
@youarekiddingme: I brought up the provision. The age of consent if below 18, applies to individuals close in age. This is the case many countries. It is sad we get creepers on this site justifying this predatory behavior.
Tobi
@youarekiddingme: If you check that map again you’ll see the majority of European countries have an age of consent of 14-15.
The only countries in Europe that have a close-in-age exemption are Finland and Slovenia, and that only applies in cases where one of the participants is under the age of consent, ie. 16 or 15 respectively.
It doesn’t affect me whether the age of consent is as low as 13 or as high as 18. However, I lived through a time where the age of consent was 21, and I heard the same arguments about criminalising those who wanted and consented to sex like myself but were under age simply because a government decided they were. I can still recall the shock I felt when a 23-year-old friend of mine was gaoled for 2 years for sleeping with a 19-year-old back in the early 1970’s.
If you do some research, you’ll be surprised at the number of statutory rape cases brought against teenagers in the USA, usually at the behest of the female partner’s parents. It usually results in gaol for the guy and it certainly ruins lives.
Oh, and the definition of paedophile is someone who is attracted to pre-pubescent children not 16 year olds. I certainly find it creepy when I see an 16 year old girl on the arm of an 80 year old man but I don’t think it should be criminalised though, just because I’m not keen on it.
I completely agree with you regarding coercion, monetary influence, position of authority or trust, etc. but I believe these should be separate offences and in many cases not age restricted anyway.
@Giancarlo85: “This is the case many countries.” I adore the way you jut pontificate those voices in your head as facts!! The only countries that have a close-in-age exemption are Finland and Slovenia, as mentioned above, oh, and Canada! It only applies when one party is below their actual age of consent.
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: We get to the heart of the matter…Your “friend” who got busted for “gaoled” for being 23 and dating a 19 year old…oh, ok. Remember what I said? Letter of the law vs spirit or intent of the law? Although I have NO idea what country you’re referring to. Your story is a far cry from the the headline of this article…some 44 year old priest meeting teenage boys and screwing them in his car and in the rectory for christ’s sake! Stop with the bullshit about Grindr and your country and kids being able to get on there…any country kids can get on Grindr! Like they take fingerprints…Ha! There is no identity or age check. You say you’re over 18 in this country and BAM you get onto the site.
Every boo-hoo story you have about some poor boy with a hard dick who got “caught” I have 1000 “old” Pervs trying to screw kids who 13 or 14 years old (or younger). You have no facts or data on prosecutions of statutory rape…you didn’t produce them. Your argument on 16 year olds and 80 year olds is moot, since the age of majority in most countries is 16. I actually worked in a field where I saw some of these sick bastards caught (and yeah, they’re pedophiles…like your friend the priest). Pedophile…an adult who enjoys having sexual relations with a child (USUALLY PREPUBESCENT)!
Your argument about the age of consent and criminalizing it because the “government” decided to…more bullshit. The “government” doesn’t decide to do any of that. The laws are based on societal norms. This is why drinking, driving, conscription and yes age of consent vary greatly from country to country (and sometimes from state to state).
It sounds like you enjoy sex with kids. If you do, please don’t respond. I don’t want to hear from you. Got a good US TV show for you to watch…(I don’t watch much TV). The name of the show is called, “To Catch A Predator”. Take a look at some of the sick bastards they catch on that show. If that doesn’t strike a chord in you…maybe there’s something wrong??
Tobi
@youarekiddingme: If you look up, you’ll see I never mentioned Grinder. However, seeing as you’ve raised the topic, I don’t seem why they and similar apps can’t use credit card verification to ascertain the age of their users, in those countries where the age of consent is 18, can you?!
I guess you’ve got a bee-in-your-bonnet – if not bats-in-the-belfry – about this topic. I’m inclined to think it’s those who protest the loudest like yourself who are the ones that have something to hide. Perhaps you think that people won’t suspect you if you’re calling out someone else? I’ve seen closeted gay guys do that, scared of being outed so they cast aspersions and attack other people to deflect attention. It’s a pretty sad thing to do and something you might want to seek professional help with.
I’m also sorry to disappoint you, but I’ve no interest and never had any interest in the age groups under discussion, except when I myself was the same age. However, I am grateful that I live in a country that doesn’t sexualise infants, putting them in bikinis, slathering them with makeup and parading them about in public and on TV under the guise of beauty pageants for perverts to ogle, sexually molest and occasionally kill.
You seem to think that just by legislating that someone can’t have sex until they’re 18 actually means they won’t do it. I find that truly laughable. I’m also grateful that Europe has long seen sense and has stopped criminalising young people for something that comes perfectly natural to them.
I’m sure America will eventually grow up, stop sexualising infants whilst simultaneously infantising adults, and hopefully join the rest of us here in the 21st century. It’s not a bad place. đ
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: You are as STUPID as they come now aren’t you!!
I protest the loudest (YOU ASSHOLE) because I was molested by one of these sick BASTARD “Priests” as a boy myself. So fuck you and your bullshit assumptions on why I might be defensive or abrasive on the subject!!
Your entire argument is full of shit. Stop with the 18-16 argument. I am talking about the article. I’m talking about boys (not girls as you assert) being molested by 40+ year old adults.
Stop diverting the point. Legislation has NOTHING to do with it. You brought up the whole point about the age of consent!!!! Wrong is Wrong! Legislation is NOT a deterrent for anything for those determined to commit crimes against society…never has been. Legislation is nothing more than rules/boundaries with a set of clearly defined consequences for breaking those rules. I don’t believe that the death penalty is a deterrent (it does however stop recidivism). You’re an ass if you think that Europe is so far ahead that they don’t Legislate or criminalize “things that come perfectly natural…” Uhhhhh, yes they do. You can’t have sex in public or urinate or deficate in public (all come perfectly natural) and are legislated against. You also can’t have sex with children (legislated against).
Get an argument you can win.
You aren’t even gay. Why do you hang out on a LGBTQ website? We don’t need trolls like you hanging out here.
Instead of criticizing America…stop hiding behind “Europe” and be a big boy for once in your life and say where YOU LIVE (that’s country, not continent)! I bet it’s the bastian of 21st Century Civilization…NOT!
Tobi
@youarekiddingme: Yup. You need professional help. đ
Giancarlo85
@Tobi: “I adore the way you jut pontificate those voices in your head as facts!! The only countries that have a close-in-age exemption are Finland and Slovenia, as mentioned above, oh, and Canada! It only applies when one party is below their actual age of consent.”
And you’re a perpetual bullshit artist who has never backed himself up once. Yes, those are legal facts. And no, that is not true. Italy and other countries have the same provision (this is why a certain former Prime Minister of Italy landed himself in hot water).
You’re about as stupid as a rock and you’re creepy as fuck.
Giancarlo85
@youarekiddingme: The moron doesn’t even have his facts about Europe right. Tobi is a dumbass.
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: Ha! Coming from the straight Troll Pedophile who is defending his fellow Pedohiles from another “Unknown Country” (that he probably had to flee to under fear of prosecution)!
martinbakman
Priests kissing the baby Jeezuz again?
Tobi
@Giancarlo85 + @youarekiddingme = Just another couple of hate-filled T’s. http://d.pr/16lIj
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: Yes, I am hate-filled…Toward PEDOPHILES LIKE YOU!!
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: Changing the topic once again huh? Transgendered…I have no problem with transgendered people. Am I transgendered? No. Your assumption…incorrect. I have always known my sexual identity and I am quite happy with who I am. I am a gay man and I am very happy and secure with my sexual orientation as well. I have been in a committed relationship for over 24 years and I don’t look to children to satisfy my sexual desires.
You, on the other hand, defend pedophiles. You also condemn American morals/ideals while saying you’re from “Europe.” It’s very easy to criticize when you don’t allow anyone else to know where you live. The fact of the matter is that you’re trying to evade prosecution for crimes you committed elsewhere (probably in the US) and won’t tell anyone where (what country) in Europe you reside. There’s a funny little thing that you forget here Tobi…if you’re trying to remain in hiding…your ISP can provide that information to track down your location. Yes even through an anonymous site like this. Have you ever heard of an IP Address? Yea, that leads right to your specific computer. Ever hear of the “Patriot Act?” Yea, all this crap of you supporting pedophiles…guess what gets monitored DAILY? You are, “…dumb as a rock and creepy as fuck.”
@Giancarlo85:
Tobi
@youarekiddingme I’m British by birth and currently residing in London, where the age of consent is 16, and my current ip address is 86.147.228.85 if that helps you out any?! I said before, it’s hard not to believe your extensive knowledge about paedophiles and their actions isn’t based on actual experience, or perhaps it’s just projection, are you still desperately trying to deflect attention from your own perverted desires? You really should seek professional help. Oh, and @Giancarlo85 is Colombian, where I believe the age of consent is 14. Of course, you already know that, seeing as you’re both one-and-the-same person. đ
Tobi
@youarekiddingme: Ever hear of the âPatriot Act?â I think you actually mean the Protect Act? That’s where a 16-year-old American can visit London, have sex with another 16-year-old and be arrested when they return to the USA for having sex with someone under the age of 18. It’s a really, really stupid law, huh?! Your split-personality seem to be under the deluded impression that paedophiles are stopped by age of consent laws. I’m afraid that isn’t the case. In fact, high age of consent laws mainly end up criminalising the very people they’re supposed to protect. Duh.
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: Here you go STUPID! From your own newspaper!! They say they don’t know how many weirdos you have but suspect you have the most anywhere! Btw, they have ARRESTED on cases of 16 year olds so don’t PONTIFICATE your holier than thou attitude with me! I knew once you gave up your info on where you live the BULLSHIT would roll on out…Here’s just 1 article…Wait till I do a little research!!!!!! You toadstool.
http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-paedophiles-britain/18522
Notice it’s called “factcheck?”
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: Talk about “screwed up” here’s one on FIRST COUSINS getting married and having kids! What you BRITS won’t condone in the name of sex huh?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/theres-nothing-wrong-with-cousins-getting-married-scientists-say-1210072.html
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: Uh, read and understand YOUR laws huh? How YOUR LEGISLATION protects children. Get off YOUR soap box about how GREAT you are. Here are YOUR laws:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/contents
Read it. Get definitions of what “child” is…”position of power”, etc…Don’t make someone else learn and interpret your laws from your country.
Tobi
@youarekiddingme: Yup, I was right, you do need professional help. I’m afraid all the inner rage and projection means you’re not a suitable person to be permitted near children. đ
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah…That’s what an insane person says when he doesn’t have a cogent argument…anyone who puts a “smiley” face after comment like that is totally “off.”
Tobi
@youarekiddingme: I schooled you. đ
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: Schooled by a PEDOPHILE, protecting other pedophiles…NOW THAT’S A LAUGH!!!
Tobi
@youarekiddingme: Hmm, bit creepy the kind of thing you find funny. Ugh.
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: Tobi,
Your very firist post, “…Lubricating gel, wipes, tissues and a roll of toilet paper…” Then you reply to Joe Eugene, “…The age of consent is 14 so the victims had to be younger…” Horrible, inconsiderate things to say about children who were just molested by this animal!!
CONSENT!! The article is about a PRIEST you moron!! A person in a position of POWER AND AUTHORITY!!! Doesn’t matter about AGE OF CONSENT!!
Then you make fun of someone who was molested by a priest himself! You are BELOW sick!
You are the blithering idiot who is constantly defending this idiot who has VIOLATED the law in his country (IN YOUR COUNTRY AS WELL) as it concerns sex crimes (position of power). Here’s your link AGAIN: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/contents.
Age of consent means nothing in this case. Stop protecting pedophiles/sexual predators!
Don’t deflect to make yourself look like a “big boy.”
You fucked up.
You support the wrong types of people. Your opening and following statements show it. You rationalize sex crimes with “consent laws”, which have NOTHING to do with this article WHATSOEVER!
Tobi
@youarekiddingme: I so own you. Oh, and have you tried holding your wrists under a running cold tap, I believe it’s a very effective treatment for hissy fits. đ
Tobi
@youarekiddingme: Now, let me school you again. “Lubricating gel, wipes, tissues and a roll of toilet paper” are what was found according to the Italian press. Go check. The priest was obviously not in a position of power and authority over the victim, seeing as he found him on Grindr, not in the confessional. This is why I stated upfront that he had to be under 14. If you did just a little research instead of pontificating whatever those voices in your head are yelling, then you wouldn’t look like a blithering, inconsequential, irrelevant idiot would you? Oh, and I wouldn’t own you. đ
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: Asshole, What is a priest? Is it a position of trust and power? Did he declare that position to the 14 year old that he found on Grindr? Uh…yea…Just used that influence in the “rectory” I’m sure! The “items” you refer to…we’re NOT identified in the article…ASSHOLE!!! You were poking FUN like the immature TROLL that you are!!
STOP DEFENDING PEDOPHILES!!
STOP DEFENDING SEX CRIMES!!
STOP MASTURBATING TO STORIES OF LITTLE BOYS!!!
Tobi
@youarekiddingme: You can shout, scream and stamp your size 16 ruby slippered heels all you want, but that won’t change the reality that the law relies on the person having power and/or authority over the specific individual. If you checked facts, you wouldn’t constantly make such a fool of yourself, would you? Now, have you tried the cold water tap treatment for hissy fits I recommended previously? You really should. đ
Tobi
SCHOOLED! >>> @youarekiddingme <<< SCHOOLED!
Again & Again & Again & Again
Tobi
“In uno zaino, gel lubrificante, salviettine imbevute, fazzoletti e un rotolo di carta.”
http://www.nextquotidiano.it/don-antonello-tropea-il-prete-pedofilo-coperto-dal-vescovo/
In a backpack, lubricating gel, wipes, tissues and a roll of [toilet] paper.
@youarekiddingme Yup, you’re schooled, again.
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: I guess all you smug pedophiles know the “TOOLS OF THE TRADE!”
Good Guess! How would you know what he had? Do you have some “inside information?” Yea, as I thought…you disgusting, lowlife troll…stop responding to me. You’re not in GB…You’re in Italy…Next to your buddy!! The PRIEST!!
Tobi
Not a guess, I checked the link that @alphacentauri had provided above. Go have a look and in the meantime, yup, you’re schooled, yet again. Hahaha. đ
Tobi
@youarekiddingme: Oh, and if you’re looking for a troll, let a mirror be your guide.
youarekiddingme
@Tobi: Again…Italian…a FRIEND of the PRIEST!!
PEDOPHILE!!!
PEDOPHILE!!
PEDOPHILE!!
PEDOPHILE!!
Hang out on one of your boy on boy sites you weirdo!!
Tobi
@youarekiddingme: Have you considered occasionally using boldinstead of block caps. or do you feel they better reflect your inner child throwing a temper tantrum? Oh, and don’t forget, hold your wrists under a running cold tap, it really will help with your hissy fits, I promise. đ
jesusbangedmybootie
If he is on Grindr he isnt using the priest’s position to overpower the boys. The age of consent is 14 in Italy, so the most likely thing is this site really didn’t get all the news and just posted what they heard. If hes on Grindr and the boys willingly go to hookup with him, you may think its pervy or immoral but its totally legal there. Its not even 18 everywhere the US. People get so overly emotional with the molesting issue and scream about stuff that pull out their ass and had nothing to do with THIS particular story. Calm your nut.
Truth-is-Truthy
Okay wait a sec – this article uses the word “underage” incorrectly. The age of consent in most locales is 16, and in many states (including the one I live in) it is lawful for someone over 18 to have sex with someone as long as they are 16 or older, although some states make it illegal for anyone under 18 to have a sexual relationship with someone over 18. Nevertheless, “underage” means someone UNDER 16, which is illegal in most countries. My point is that Grindr doesn’t let guys under 16 on there. This to me smacks of the repeated nonsense that gay male = pedophile. A pedophile is someone who sexually exploits a prepubescent and that isn’t just illegal it’s icky.