Priest’s religious order settles abuse suit for $1.2M
Associated Press
Last updated 11:32am (Mla time) 08/24/2007

WASHINGTON -- A former altar boy who accused a Roman Catholic priest of molesting him more than five years ago has reached a $1.2 million settlement with the priest's religious order, according to the man's parents and attorneys.

Brandon Rains, now 20, settled the 2005 lawsuit against the Dominican order and the Reverend Aaron Joseph "AJ" Cote last week for abuse alleged to have occurred at a Germantown, Maryland, church in 2001 and 2002.

The Archdiocese of Washington also was part of the settlement, but church spokeswoman Susan Gibbs said that it was not liable and that the Dominicans would shoulder the entire payment. Gibbs said that after being informed of the allegations in 2003, the archdiocese reported them to police.

Rains accused Cote of showing him pornography, masturbating in front of him and once touching his genitals when he was 14 and 15 years old.

It is the policy of The Associated Press not to name people alleging sexual assault without their consent. An attorney for Rains has said he has consented for his name to be used.

No parties admitted wrongdoing, and Cote was not charged when Maryland authorities investigated in 2003. But Rains' parents and lawyer said they believed evidence brought out during the lawsuit was enough to prosecute the priest.

"He should be held accountable to what he's done to our son and other children," said Joseph McMorrow.

In an August 2006 deposition, Cote refused to answer questions about the allegations, saying it could incriminate him. A lawyer for Cote did not immediately return calls late Thursday.

Cote's religious order, the Dominican Fathers and Brothers Province of St. Joseph in New York, urged people to report any allegations of abuse.

"It is our sincere hope that this settlement will be a source of healing and reconciliation for all involved in these allegations," the statement read.

New recall of Chinese toys in US
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/6959574.stm
Published: 2007/08/22 22:34:15 GMT
© BBC MMVII

Two more US firms have recalled Chinese-made toys, saying they include paint with dangerous levels of lead.

The items include SpongeBob SquarePants spiral address books and diaries, Thomas the Tank Engine spinning tops and some toy buckets sold in the US.

The recall of about 300,000 toys comes a week after US firm Mattel recalled 18.5 million toys.

That prompted a US senator to call for all toys imported into the country from China to be inspected.

Ohio toy firm Martin Designs and Schyllings Associates of Massachusetts issued the recall through the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

About 250,000 of the books were sold between June 2006 and July 2007, while the spinning tops and buckets were in shops between 2001 and 2002.

Parents are being told to take the items away from children.

7 pro-democracy activists arrested in Myanmar
Agence France-Presse
Last updated 07:30am (Mla time) 08/22/2007

YANGON -- At least seven leading pro-democracy advocates in military-run Myanmar were arrested late Tuesday for leading a rare march to protest a massive hike in fuel prices, the opposition party and other activists said.

Myint Thein, a spokesman for the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), said that five activists had been arrested around midnight after security forces went to their homes.

The spokesman told Agence France-Presse that the detained activists included Mya Aye, Kyaw Min Yu, Pyone Cho, Ant Bwe Kyaw and a fifth man known by his nickname "Marky."

Fellow activists said on condition of anonymity that two other prominent pro-democracy leaders, Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, had also been arrested.

All seven are former student leaders who have already served lengthy prison sentences over earlier protests against Myanmar's regime.

The NLD had warned Monday that the government could face more protests against the fuel price increases last week, which doubled the cost of transportation for many in Yangon.

Security has been heightened around the city, with police patrolling in large personnel transport vehicles.

Activists were seen moving around Yangon during the day on Tuesday in an attempt to organize a new march through the city, but the protest never got off the ground.

"We will try to stage another protest anyway, despite the arrests," one former student leader told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Since their release from prison over the last three years, the former student leaders have breathed new life into the NLD, which has been rudderless since the latest arrest of its leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.

Aung San Suu Kyi has spent most of the last 17 years under house arrest. She helped lead the NLD to a landslide victory in 1990 elections, but the military has never recognized the results. -End-

Back to top ^