3/7/02

LC020307

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> COMPTON'S NEW MAYOR CARRIED A GUN DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. NOW HE'S WORRIED ABOUT BEING TARGETED BY SUPPORTERS OF THE MAN HE DEFEATED, OMAR BRADLEY.

ERIC PERRODIN>> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE BRADLEY CAMP WHO HAVE BEEN SENT TO PRISON. THERE'S A LOT OF GANG MEMBERS AROUND HIS CAMP. I'M A FORMER POLICE OFFICER. I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARRY A GUN.

VAL>> THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS CRACKING DOWN ON CHILD MOLESTERS WITHIN THE PRIESTHOOD. TONIGHT A LOOK AT HOW THE CHURCH IS TRYING TO POLICE ITSELF, PLUS ONE MAN'S STORY OF BEING VICTIMIZED BY A TRUSTED PRIEST.

JOE DELONG>> THE MOLESTATION THAT TOOK PLACE STARTED OUT GRADUALLY IN MY BEDROOM AND THEN IT WOULD BE AT CAMPGROUNDS OR IT WOULD BE ON SOME SIDE STREET.

JESS>> ALSO, PATT MORRISON HAS STUDIED THIS WEEK'S ELECTION RESULTS AND SHE WANTS THE REST OF US TO PAY ATTENTION.

PATT>> THERE ARE THE LESSONS OF 9/11 AND THE LESSONS OF 3/5, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND A LOS ANGELES POET EXPLORES THE CONTRADICTIONS OF HER HISPANIC UPBRINGING.

MARIA ELENA FERNANDEZ>> "SEXUAL RIGHTS FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRLS? YEAH."

VAL>> MARIA ELENA FERNANDEZ SHARES THE FUNNY SIDE OF LIFE AS A LATINA AMERICAN IN HER ONE-WOMEN PERFORMANCE, "CONFESSIONS OF A CHA-CHA FEMINIST".

JESS>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

TONIGHT A TALE OF TWO MAYORS. ONE IS SO CONCERNED ABOUT HIS SAFETY THAT HE MAY BE CARRYING A GUN. THE OTHER IS TRYING TO SQUEEZE NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THE CITY TO PAY HIS PERSONAL LEGAL FEES. THEY'RE BOTH FROM COMPTON, A PLACE THAT'S BEEN CHARACTERIZED AS SUFFERING POLITICAL MELTDOWN.

VAL>> IN A MOMENT, WE'LL ASK THE NEW MAYOR WHAT HE PLANS TO DO, BUT FIRST PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS ON THIS BIZARRE EVENT THAT HAS LEFT PEOPLE OF COMPTON WONDERING WHO'S IN CHARGE.

ERIC PERRODIN>> HELLO, EVERYONE.

>> HOW YOU FEELING?

>> SO, WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING?

ERIC PERRODIN>> I FEEL PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW.

>> I'LL BET YOU DO.

ERIC PERRODIN>> I'VE NEVER HAD THIS MANY CAMERAS IN MY FACE.

PHILIP>> ERIC PERRODIN IS COMPTON'S VERSION OF THE COMEBACK KID. AFTER GETTING TURNED OUT OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE BY A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE, PERRODIN WAS RESTORED TO POWER BY A PANEL OF APPELLATE JUDGES. GOOD NEWS FOR HIM, BAD NEWS FOR OMAR BRADLEY, THE LONG-TIME CONTROVERSIAL INCUMBENT WHO GOT BEATEN AT THE POLLS LAST SUMMER IN A SURPRISING UPSET.

ERIC PERRODIN>> MY GOAL IS TO TRY TO IMPROVE COMPTON AND I THINK I CAN WITH MY IMAGE. I'M REACHING OUT THAT OLIVE BRANCH TO MR. BRADLEY AND HIS SUPPORTERS. IT SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT ME OR MR. BRADLEY. IT SHOULD BE ABOUT THE CITY OF COMPTON.

PHILIP>> PERRODIN'S RETURN TO CITY HALL IS JUST THE LATEST EPISODE IN THE ONGOING POLITICAL SOAP OPERA THAT'S LEFT MANY COMPTON RESIDENTS WONDERING WHO'S IN CHARGE. IT STARTED AFTER BRADLEY'S ELECTION DEFEAT. HE WENT TO COURT CLAIMING FRAUD AT THE POLLS.

OMAR BRADLEY>> I MUST CONFESS THAT I WAS HURT. IF I WAS TO SAY THAT I WAS NOT HURT, I WOULD BE A LIAR. AND I MUST SAY THAT I WAS SHAKEN AND I WAS SHOCKED.

PHILIP>> AFTER A BITTER TRIAL, THE JUDGE RULED IN BRADLEY'S FAVOR SAYING THAT PERRODIN HAD AN UNFAIR BALLOT POSITION AND, SOON ENOUGH, BRADLEY WAS BACK IN THE MAYOR'S SEAT. BUT IT DIDN'T LAST LONG. PERRODIN FILED AN APPEAL AND A THREE-JUDGE PANEL SAID HE WAS COMPTON'S RIGHTFUL MAYOR, PENDING A FINAL DECISION ON THE CASE. WITH THAT, BRADLEY WAS OUT AGAIN AND PERRODIN WAS BACK IN.

>> MR. MAYOR?

ERIC PERRODIN>> YES, SIR.

>> IF I MIGHT SWEAR YOU BACK IN?

ERIC PERRODIN>> YES, SIR.

>> IF YOU'LL RAISE YOUR HAND, SIR. REPEAT AFTER ME AND STATE YOUR NAME: I --

ERIC PERRODIN>> I, ERIC PERRODIN --

>> -- DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR --

ERIC PERRODIN>> -- DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR....

PHILIP>> PERRODIN'S VICTORY MAY BE SWEET, BUT IT COMES AT A PRICE. IT'S BEEN WIDELY REPORTED THAT HE CARRIED A GUN DURING THE RACE AGAINST BRADLEY AND EVEN NOW HE SAYS HE DOESN'T FEEL TOTALLY SAFE.

ERIC PERRODIN>> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE BRADLEY CAMP WHO HAVE BEEN SENT TO PRISON. THERE'S A LOT OF GANG MEMBERS AROUND HIS CAMP. I'M A FORMER POLICE OFFICER. I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARRY A GUN. THERE'S A MISNOMER, A MISCONCEPTION, THAT I CARRIED MY GUN INTO THE POLLING PLACE. I'VE NEVER TOOK THE GUN INTO THE POLLING PLACE AND I DIDN'T VIOLATE ANY LAWS, BUT I AM CONCERNED.

PHILIP>> THE POLITICS OF SMALL CITIES LIKE COMPTON RARELY ATTRACT MUCH ATTENTION FROM THE MEDIA, BUT THE SAGA OF THE ROTATING MAYOR HAS BROUGHT OUT THE PRESS.

>> WE'RE A HOUSEHOLD WORD NOW. COMPTON IS A HOUSEHOLD WORD, ALMOST AS BAD AS THE JERRY SPRINGER SHOW.

>> DON'T NOBODY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW? SO IT HAS THE WHOLE CITY CONFUSED.

>> COMPTON IS REALLY NOT A BAD PLACE. IT'S JUST LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE, BUT BY THEM DOING THIS THING NOW, IT LOOKS REAL BAD.

PHILIP>> SOME COMPTON CITIZENS WORRY THAT THE CITY'S BUSINESS HAS COME TO A HALT.

>> SOME BUSINESS AIN'T BEING DONE. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AND DISCUSSED AND GET THINGS MOVING IN COMPTON.

PHILIP>> CITY CLERK, CHARLES DAVIS, SAYS COMPTON'S DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE KEPT THEIR WORKERS ON TRACK, BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGES THERE ARE PROBLEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, COMPTON HAD A NEW CITY MANAGER UNDER PERRODIN. THEN LAST MONTH, HE WENT ON PAID LEAVE AS BRADLEY BROUGHT BACK THE FORMER MANAGER.

CHARLES DAVIS>> YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T KEEP PAYING OUT ALL THIS MONEY. YOU KNOW, YOU ENTER INTO THESE AGREEMENTS. EVERY TIME YOU ENTER INTO ONE AND YOU TERMINATE THEM PREMATURELY, THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. THE CITY COUNCIL'S GOING TO HAVE TO GET PAST THE POLITICS AND GET BACK TO THE REALITY OF SERVICING THESE CITIZENS.

PHILIP>> AND THERE'S ALSO THE MATTER OF THE $800,000 IN LEGAL FEES THAT BRADLEY GOT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MOMENTS AFTER THE COURT OF APPEALS ORDERED PERRODIN BACK IN OFFICE.

ERIC PERRODIN>> FOR A LOT OF YEARS, A LOT OF THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING UNSAID IN THE CITY OF COMPTON. THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, THE KIND OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN THE CITY OF COMPTON.

PHILIP>> AS PERRODIN BEGAN SETTLING BACK INTO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT BRADLEY'S HOLD ON THE CITY COULD CONTINUE. PERRODIN HAS JUST ONE SUPPORTER ON THE CITY COUNCIL. THE OTHER THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN THE BRADLEY CAMP.

ERIC PERRODIN>> WELL, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION, TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU.

JESS>> JOINING US NOW IS THE RECENTLY ELECTED AND NEWLY REINSTALLED MAYOR OF COMPTON, ERIC PERRODIN. WE'D LIKE TO ADD THAT FORMER MAYOR, OMAR BRADLEY, WAS ALSO INVITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT. INSTEAD, BRADLEY IS EXPECTED TO BE WITH US NEXT WEEK.

WE SAW YOUR NAME IS NOW PAINTED ON THE DOOR. IS IT THERE TO STAY?

ERIC PERRODIN>> YES, SIR. I HOPE SO.

VAL>> YOU HOPE SO, BUT THERE ARE STILL OTHER LEGAL PROCEDURES TO GO THROUGH. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP?

ERIC PERRODIN>> CURRENTLY, IN THE SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS. WE ARE APPEALING THE ORIGINAL RULING BY JUDGE CHIRLIN AND, HOPEFULLY WITHIN SOME MONTHS OR POSSIBLY A COUPLE OF YEARS, THE JUDGE WILL RULE IN OUR FAVOR.

VAL>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT THERE COULD BE SORT OF A CLOUD OF UNCERTAINTY OVER THE COMPTON MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR TWO YEARS?

ERIC PERRODIN>> WELL, IN A SENSE, IT WOULD BE, BUT IN REALITY, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD. HOPEFULLY, I WON'T ANGER ANY OF THE APPELLATE JUSTICES BY THIS COMMENT I'M ABOUT TO MAKE. THE SAME COURT THAT ISSUED THE STAY WILL BE THE SAME COURT THAT WILL RULE ON THE APPEAL. NOW IF THEY DIDN'T THINK THE APPEAL HAD ANY MERIT, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE GRANTED A STAY TO PUT ME INTO OFFICE, SO I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THE APPEAL WILL BE GRANTED.

JESS>> THE RULING THEY OVERTURNED WAS THE RULING THAT SAID BECAUSE YOUR NAME APPEARED FIRST ON THE BALLOT THAT THAT WAS AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE AND THEY CITED SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT THE CHANCES IF YOU'RE THE NUMBER ONE WOULD HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY NARROW VICTORY, WASN'T IT?

ERIC PERRODIN>> THAT'S CORRECT, BUT THE PERSON THAT GAVE THIS PARTICULAR THEORY WAS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST FROM OHIO. HE DID A STUDY IN OHIO AND HE USED THOSE FIGURES AND PUT THEM IN THE COMPTON RACE. WE DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS GENTLEMAN AND WE FOUND OUT THAT, IN ONE CASE, HE TESTIFIED FOR THE OPPOSITE SIDE. (LAUGHTER) SO IT WOULD GIVE YOU THE IMPRESSION THAT WHOEVER PAID HIM THE MOST MONEY, THAT'S WHO HE WOULD TESTIFY FOR.

A LOT OF CITIZENS THAT I SPOKE TO WERE QUITE ANGRY. AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS PRETTY MUCH A MINORITY CITY. SIXTY TO SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT LATINO NOW. BUT A LOT OF CITIZENS I SPOKE TO THOUGHT IT WAS INSULTING FOR THE JUDGE TO FOLLOW THIS RULING BECAUSE IT SAID, WELL, BLACKS AND LATINOS DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ AND CAN'T TELL BETWEEN BRADLEY WHO HAD BEEN IN OFFICE FOR TEN YEARS AND PERRODIN WHO BASICALLY, I WAS A POLITICAL NEOPHYTE.

VAL>> I'D LIKE TO GET TO THE BIG PICTURE HERE. WHILE ALL THIS SQUABBLING IS GOING ON, YOU'VE GOT A CITY TO RUN WITH A LOT OF PROBLEMS. STEVE LOPEZ'S COLUMN I THINK PERHAPS REFLECTS THE FEELING. HE TALKED TO A COMPTON CITIZEN THERE WHO SAID, "THERE'S A LOT OF CROOKS IN THERE STEALING FROM THEIR OWN PEOPLE." IS THAT TRUE?

ERIC PERRODIN>> WELL, I'M A DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND, IF I TAKE THAT HAT OFF, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

VAL>> THAT THERE'S CORRUPTION IN A LOT OF --

ERIC PERRODIN>> -- THERE'S A LOT OF CORRUPTION IN THE CITY OF COMPTON. WE'VE HAD, I BELIEVE, FOUR COUNCIL PEOPLE SENT TO PRISON WITHIN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS.

JESS>> DO YOU THINK THAT'S THE END OF IT?

ERIC PERRODIN>> I THINK IF THE PROPER AUTHORITIES WILL DO THEIR FULL INVESTIGATION, I THINK SOME MORE PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY BE INDICTED.

JESS>> MORE INDICTMENTS COMING DOWN?

ERIC PERRODIN>> YES. I THINK THE CITY NEEDS A CLEANSING. WE REALLY NEED A CLEANSING TO START MOVING BECAUSE THERE'S MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING COMPTON THAN THIS PETTY POLITICS OF WHO'S THE MAYOR OF COMPTON.

JESS>> BUT, IN TRUTH, THE MAYOR OF COMPTON -- THE ROLE IS LARGELY CEREMONIAL, IS IT NOT?

ERIC PERRODIN>> THAT'S CORRECT.

JESS>> HOW DOES THE -- THE STAFF THAT YOU INHERITED WAS JUST THAT, A STAFF YOU INHERITED FROM OMAR BRADLEY. HOW ARE THEY TREATING YOU?

ERIC PERRODIN>> NOT VERY WELL AT THE PRESENT TIME. I WAS PUT BACK IN OFFICE ON THE 26TH OF FEBRUARY AND I BELIEVE TODAY IS THE 7TH OF MARCH. AS OF TODAY, MY SECRETARY NOR MY ASSISTANT HAVE AN OFFICE. BASICALLY, THEY'RE WORKING OUT OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. COULD YOU IMAGINE, IF JIM HAHN'S SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT WAS WORKING OUT OF HIS OFFICE, IF HE HAS TO ENTERTAIN BUSINESS LEADERS OR OTHER LEADERS, THEY HAVE TO SAY, OH, WAIT A SECOND. I GOT TO GET MY SECRETARY AND MY ASSISTANT OUT OF THE OFFICE FIRST.

JESS>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE TO ASK WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF HIM BEING ABLE TO COLLECT, WHAT WAS IT, $850,000 IN LEGAL FEES?

ERIC PERRODIN>> I'M HOPING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL RESCIND THEIR VOTE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AN ILLEGAL VOTE. I TALKED TO THE CITY TREASURER AND HE SAID IT WAS AN ILLEGAL ACT AND HE WASN'T GOING TO SIGN ANY CHECK.

VAL>> AND IT IS BEING APPEALED.

ERIC PERRODIN>> YES.

VAL>> ERIC PERRODIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BY. AS WE MENTIONED, WE HOPE TO TALK WITH OMAR BRADLEY NEXT WEEK.

ERIC PERRODIN>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, IT'S THE NEWEST DRUG PROBLEM IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, MILLIONS OF COLD PILLS SMUGGLED IN FROM CANADA. YOU'LL SEE HOW THOSE PILLS ARE USED TO MAKE A DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL NARCOTIC.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHY WOULD RESIDENTS OF THE FAIRFAX DISTRICT BE ANGRY ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL NEW SHOPPING CENTER? JUST LOOK AT THE GRIDLOCK ON THEIR STREETS, THAT'S WHY.

>> YOU GOT TO GET THROUGH THESE STREETS. THEY ARE JAMMED TO CAPACITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS LIVING IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

JESS>> THE BISHOP OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE IN SAN BERNARDINO FORMED A TASKFORCE TO REVIEW THE FILES OF HIS PRIESTS. HE'S TRYING TO MAKE CERTAIN NONE OF THE PRIESTS HAS A HISTORY OF SEXUALLY ABUSING CHILDREN.

VAL>> IT'S JUST ONE WAY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS RESPONDING TO AN EMBARRASSING CRISIS, THE PROBLEM OF SO-CALLED PREDATOR PRIESTS. RECENT CASES IN ORANGE COUNTY AND LOS ANGELES HAVE MADE HEADLINES, BUT THE MOST WELL-KNOWN CRISIS HAS BEEN IN BOSTON WHERE SCORES OF PRIESTS HAVE BEEN IMPLICATED IN A SCANDAL THAT SPANS FOUR DECADES. ONE MAN IN BOSTON RECENTLY SPOKE OF HOW HE WAS VICTIMIZED AS A CHILD BY A TRUSTED PRIEST.

JOE DELONG>> WHEN I FIRST WAS PUBLIC FIVE YEARS AGO, THERE WERE A LOT OF ANGRY CATHOLICS WHO WOULD SAY TO ME, "SHUT YOUR MOUTH", "BE QUIET", "FINE, MAYBE IT DID HAPPEN TO YOU, BUT JUST KEEP IT TO YOURSELF." THE MOLESTATION THAT TOOK PLACE STARTED OUT GRADUALLY IN MY BEDROOM AND THEN IT WOULD BE AT CAMPGROUNDS OR IT WOULD BE ON SOME SIDE STREET. I STAYED WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OVER THE YEARS. THIS MOLESTATION TOOK PLACE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG BOY, BUT AFTER THAT I MET SOME VERY VITAL PRIESTS THAT LIVED OUT THEIR VOWS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW IS CHARLES COULOMBE. HE IS A WRITER WHO CONTRIBUTES A REGULAR COLUMN TO THE CONSERVATIVE MONTHLY, THE LOS ANGELES LAY CATHOLIC MISSION. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

CHARLES COULOMBE>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JESS>> MR. COULOMBE, HOW WIDESPREAD DO YOU THINK THIS PROBLEM IS?

CHARLES COULOMBE>> VERY DIFFICULT QUESTION. I SUPPOSE IT'S REALLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. IT'S, OF COURSE, VERY HARD TO SAY, YOU KNOW, HOW WIDESPREAD IT IS AMONGST LITTLE LEAGUERS, HOW WIDESPREAD IT IS AMONGST TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS. HARD TO DAY, BUT OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A LITTLE MORE OF A PROBLEM WHEN IT'S A PRIEST. WE EXPECT MORE OUT OF A PRIEST.

JESS>> SOME WOULD BLAME IT ALL ON THE REQUIREMENT FOR CELIBACY.

CHARLES COULOMBE>> THEY WOULD, BUT IF THAT WERE THE CASE, JUDGE KLINE WOULDN'T HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, SO THE CELIBACY ISSUE IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE. LOOK AT ALL OF, AGAIN, THE COUNSELORS, THE LITTLE LEAGUE PEOPLE, SCOUT LEADERS, JUDGE KLINE, AND NOW MR. BLUMENTHAL, MOST RECENTLY. THESE MEN WERE NOT REQUIRED TO BE CELIBATE.

JESS>> WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT JUDGE KLINE HAS JUST BEEN ACCUSED.

CHARLES COULOMBE>> JUST ACCUSED.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT. SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT, WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING LIKE CHILD MOLESTATION, IT IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE CELIBATE?

CHARLES COULOMBE>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> NOW IN TERMS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S RESPONSE, CARDINAL MAHONY HERE IN LOS ANGELES HAS DISMISSED OR ASKED TO RESIGN, I THINK, A DOZEN PRIESTS WITH I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WERE CONFIRMED CASES OF CHILD MOLESTATION, BUT SOME EVIDENCE OF CHILD MOLESTATION. IS THAT ENOUGH?

CHARLES COULOMBE>> NO.

VAL>> WHAT MORE HAS TO BE DONE?

CHARLES COULOMBE>> WELL, FOR STARTERS, A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS RESULTED, I THINK, FROM A CHANGE IN CLERICAL DISCIPLINE DURING THE 1960'S AND IN SEMINARY EDUCATION. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM OF MORALS AMONGST THE CLERGY IN TANDEM WITH THE PROBLEMS OF FAITH AMONG THE CLERGY. THE CELIBATE LIFE IS A VERY, VERY HARD ONE TO LIVE IF YOU HAVE FAITH IN THE CATHOLIC TEACHINGS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE FAITH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, I'D SAY.

VAL>> WHAT WERE THE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED?

CHARLES COULOMBE>> WELL, TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, DURING THE 60'S WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, YOU OFTEN HEARD PRIESTS COMPLAINING THAT THEY WERE TOO CAREFULLY SUPERVISED BY THEIR PASTORS, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FREEDOM, ENOUGH TIME ON THEIR OWN AND SO ON. DURING THE 60'S, THEY GOT THIS.

VAL>> AND LESS SUPERVISION.

JESS>> YOU ALSO SUGGEST THAT THE CHANGE IN THE CONFESSIONAL IS A FACTOR.

CHARLES COULOMBE>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING. I DON'T KNOW HOW MAJOR A FACTOR IT IS, BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO ME THAT THE CONFESSIONAL AS WE KNEW IT TRADITIONALLY AND AS YOU'LL STILL SEE IT IN MOST PLACES, WHICH GAVE ANONYMITY TO BOTH THE CONFESSOR AND THE PENITENT, AROSE OVER TIME EXPRESSLY TO REMOVE ANY SORT OF SUSPICION FROM THE PRACTICE. WELL, WHAT HAPPENS IS, YOU GET RID OF IT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SAME SORTS OF PROBLEMS THE PEOPLE USED TO CONDEMN IN THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES START COMING BACK. HUMAN NATURE DOESN'T CHANGE.

VAL>> I'M SORRY, SO YOU'RE SAYING ANONYMITY WITHIN THE CONFESSIONAL --

CHARLES COULOMBE>> YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHO YOU WERE SEEING. THEY DIDN'T SEE YOU, YOU DIDN'T SEE THEM. TODAY ON THE RADIO AS I WAS COMING IN, I LISTENED TO THIS OTHER FELLOW WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE BEEN MOLESTED BY FATHER PECHARICH --

JESS>> -- IN ORANGE COUNTY.

CHARLES COULOMBE>> THE VERY SAME. HE SAID THAT IT STARTED JUST AFTER GOING TO HIS FIRST FACE-TO-FACE CONFESSION WITH THIS PRIEST. HE SAYS, WELL, THIS PRIEST WAS THE ONE WHO INITIATED THE PRACTICE AT HIS PARISH CHURCH. AGAIN, VERY OFTEN AGE-OLD PRACTICES ARE DONE FOR A PARTICULAR REASON AND YOU SOMETIMES DON'T FIND OUT WHY UNTIL YOU GET RID OF THEM.

JESS>> THIS IS COSTING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

CHARLES COULOMBE>> IT IS.

JESS>> IS THERE NOT THE CONCERN THAT SOMEONE SEEING THAT THE CHURCH IS PAYING OUT ALL THIS MONEY WILL COME FORWARD AND SAY, OH YEAH, I WAS MOLESTED TOO?

CHARLES COULOMBE>> OF COURSE, THERE IS, AND THAT'S THE OTHER PROBLEM. SOME OF THESE TWELVE PRIESTS, I'LL BET YOU DOLLARS TO DOUGHNUTS, AT LEAST ONE OF THEM IS COMPLETELY INNOCENT. THOUGH I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, I'LL BET YOU ANYTHING THAT THAT'S THE CASE.

VAL>> CHARLES, WE'VE ONLY TOUCHED THE SURFACE OF THIS SUBJECT. WE HOPE YOU CAN COME BACK AND TALK WITH US MORE.

CHARLES COULOMBE>> BE GLAD TO.

VAL>> CHARLES COULOMBE, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. APPRECIATE IT.

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JESS>> YOU CAN CRY FOUL IN THE GAME OF POLITICS, BUT IT USUALLY DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD. PATT MORRISON HAS HER PICKS FOR SOME OUT-OF-BOUND MOVES IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> IF YOU STEP BACK FROM TUESDAY'S ELECTIONS FOR A LONGER LOOK, TWO PATTERNS MADE THEMSELVES EVIDENT, THE CYNICAL AND THE SILLY. YOU COULDN'T MISS THE CYNICAL. TEN MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF COMMERCIALS THAT THE GRAY DAVIS CAMPAIGN MOUNTED AGAINST FORMER L.A. MAYOR, RICHARD RIORDAN. THE DAVIS ADS ATTACKED FROM THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT, ACCUSING RIORDAN OF FLIP-FLOPPING ON THE DEATH PENALTY AND ABORTION. THEY MANAGED TO THROW OFF-KILTER THE ONE REPUBLICAN WHOSE POSITIONS WERE LIKELIER TO TAKE MODERATE VOTES AWAY FROM DAVIS. THIS WAS BRILLIANT, GROUNDBREAKING POLITICAL STRATEGIZING, BUT IN CIVIC-MINDEDNESS, IT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT TO COMMEND IT.

JUST TWO YEARS AGO, BOTH MAJOR PARTIES WENT CRYING TO THE SUPREME COURT TO THROW OUT CALIFORNIA'S FLEDGLING BLANKET PRIMARY WHICH LET VOTERS DECIDE ON PRIMARY DAY WHETHER THEY WANTED TO VOTE AS REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS OR SOMETHING ELSE. THE PARTIES ARGUED THAT THIS ALLOWED OUTSIDERS TO HIJACK THE NOMINATING PROCESS AND MAKE POLITICAL MISCHIEF. SO NOW WE CAN CONCLUDE THAT IT'S WRONG FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO CROSS PARTY LINES TO CAST A SINGLE VOTE, BUT IT'S OKAY FOR A PARTY LEADER TO SPEND TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON ADS TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING. NOW THAT'S CYNICAL.

AS FOR SILLY, THE L.A. TIMES POLL FOUND THAT THIRTY PERCENT OF THOSE WHO VOTED FOR BILL SIMON DID SO BECAUSE HE WAS ENDORSED BY RUDY GIULIANI, THE FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK AND THE HERO OF 9/11. PEOPLE WHO VOTE BASED ON ENDORSEMENTS MAKE ME THINK OF KIDS WHO WANT A TOY BECAUSE THEIR FAVORITE CARTOON'S FACE IS ON IT, OR GROWNUPS WHO BUY A CAR BECAUSE A SPORTS HERO APPEARS IN AN AD FOR IT. MAYBE BEING TIME MAGAZINE MAN OF THE YEAR PUTS GIULIANI IN THAT CATEGORY OR MAYBE VOTERS THOUGHT GIULIANI WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK MARTIN SHEEN IS PRESIDENT, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY HIS FACE IS RIGHT THERE ON GRAY DAVIS'S WEBSITE. THE ODD THING IS THAT GIULIANI'S POLITICAL POSITIONS, PRO CHOICE, PRO GUN CONTROL, PRO GAY RIGHTS, ARE MUCH CLOSER TO RIORDAN'S THAN THEY ARE TO SIMON'S.

THE ONLY HEADLINE ACHIEVEMENT IN THIS CALIFORNIA PRIMARY WAS THE LOWEST PRIMARY VOTER TURNOUT IN STATE HISTORY. AFTER 9/11, WE ALL BELIEVE IN AMERICA, BUT PRECIOUS FEW OF US SEEM TO BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY.

VAL>> HOW DOES A LATINA HANDLE THE CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN HER TRADITIONAL CULTURE AND THE FREEDOMS OFFERED BY AMERICAN SOCIETY? POET AND PERFORMER, MARIA ELENA FERNANDEZ, EXPLORES THIS TRICKY QUESTION IN HER ONE-WOMAN SHOW, "CONFESSIONS OF A CHA-CHA FEMINIST".

JESS>> FERNANDEZ TAKES A HUMOROUS AND INSIGHTFUL LOOK AT GROWING UP IN AN L.A. MEXICAN IMMIGRANT FAMILY AND THEN ESCAPING TO A WHOLE NEW LIFE AT YALE UNIVERSITY. BUT BECOMING A FEMINIST DOESN'T NECESSARILY KILL HER CHILDHOOD DESIRE TO BE A LATINA PARTY GIRL. MARIA ELENA FERNANDEZ TAKES US THROUGH HER CLASHES AND CONTRADICTIONS.

MARIA ELENA FERNANDEZ>> "I GO TO IMMACULATE HEART HIGH SCHOOL NOW. IT'S THE BEST GIRL'S CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN L.A. OKAY, WELL, SO, MAYBE IT'S NOT THE BEST, BUT IT'S BETTER THAN HOLY FAMILY...."

I WAS BORN IN LOS ANGELES. MY PARENTS ARE FROM MEXICO CITY. I WAS RAISED, YOU KNOW, ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW PATH OF A GOOD CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRL. I THINK, BECAUSE MY PARENTS WERE IMMIGRANTS, I BELIEVE -- I ALWAYS SAY THIS JOKE THAT I WAS RAISED LIKE MY MOTHER AS IF WE WERE IN MEXICO IN THE 1950'S.

"ANYWAY, I JUST TURNED FIFTEEN AND I HAD A BIG QUINCEANERA. YOU KNOW, LIKE AMERICANS HAVE SWEET SIXTEENS. SO NOW I CAN WEAR MAKEUP, FINALLY, BUT I STILL CAN'T GO TO MARILYN'S DISCO."

THE CHA-CHA? SOME PEOPLE STILL USE IT GENERALLY TO TALK ABOUT, LIKE, LATINA PARTY GIRLS. SO IN GENERAL, IT MEANS A LATINA PARTY GIRL WITH A VERY HIGHLY FEMININE AESTHETIC, WHICH MEANS, YOU KNOW, THE HIGH HEELS, THE LITTLE SKIRTS, THE LITTLE TOP, YOU KNOW, THE PUSH-UP BRA, PLUNGING NECKLINE, YOU KNOW, BIG HAIR AND BIG HOOPS.

I WOULD SORT OF WATCH THE CHA-CHA'S AND SORT OF WATCH THEM, YOU KNOW, LONGINGLY BECAUSE I COULDN'T BE THEM AND I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO EXPRESS THAT IN ANY WAY. I KNEW ALL ABOUT THIS WHOLE CULTURE AND I WAS KIND OF ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN AND WAS ALWAYS WANTING TO REACH FOR IT, SO COLLEGE WAS MY OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

"LET'S SAY YOU'RE JUST DANCING LIKE THAT WITH SOMEONE AND YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE RISK AND DANCE WITH YOUR BACK TO HIM. BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO THAT, IT'S LIKE AN INVITATION TO GET CLOSER."

BECAUSE I HAD AN OLDER BROTHER, THE DOUBLE STANDARD WAS SO CLEAR TO ME, LIKE WHO'D DO THE HOUSEWORK IN MY HOUSE. YOU KNOW, IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE MY MOM WAS ALWAYS WORKING AND MY DAD WAS ALWAYS KICKING BACK. AND THE ONLY ANSWER I EVER GOT IN MY HOUSEHOLD OF WHY MY BROTHER COULD DO THINGS AND I COULDN'T WAS, "USTED ES UNA MUJER", "YOU'RE A WOMAN, YOU'RE A FEMALE, PERIOD." WHEN I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE ACTUAL FEMINIST THEORY WAS IN COLLEGE.

"THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF GENDER AND ITS NEGATIVE EFFECT ON WOMEN."

AND IT HIT ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS BECAUSE IT SUDDENLY EXPLAINED MY WHOLE LIFE TO ME AND, AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS REALLY CULTIVATING THIS FEMININE AESTHETIC FOR MYSELF, WHICH WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF MY IDENTITY AS A WOMAN AND I THINK AS A LATINA WOMAN.

"DO YOUR OWN DAMNED DISHES! DO YOUR OWN DAMNED DISHES! SEXUAL RIGHTS FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRLS! SEXUAL RIGHTS FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRLS! YEAH!"

AFTER COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, I JUST WANTED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE, YOU KNOW? I DECIDED I WOULD GO BACK TO ACADEMIA. I THOUGHT, WELL, IF THERE'S ANYTHING I'M GOOD AT, IT'S SCHOOL.

I STILL DON'T GET IT. THEN I FAILED MY EXAMS (LAUGHTER) AT THE BEGINNING OF MY SECOND YEAR, THE MOST IMPORTANT EXAMS OF MY WHOLE LIFE, AND I FAILED THEM AND I WAS COMPLETELY DEVASTATED. I MEAN, MY WHOLE IDENTITY AT THAT POINT WAS INVESTED IN BECOMING THIS CHICANA HISTORIAN. EVERYTHING I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE FELL APART. AND I REMEMBERED THAT MY SECRET DREAM WAS REALLY TO BE A WRITER.

"THAT'S ANOTHER WAY THAT POETRY IS USED. WE USE THIS SPACE TO ASK QUESTIONS THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND YET."

I STARTED TO BECOME KNOWN AS A POET AND AS A WRITER. YOU KNOW, JUST AN OPPORTUNITY OPENED UP WHERE THEY NEEDED SOMEBODY TO TEACH THIS LITERATURE CLASS AND I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, CHICANO LITERATURE IS REALLY WHAT CHANGED MY LIFE, SO NOW I GET TO TEACH THE WRITERS WHO CHANGED MY LIFE AND I GET TO TEACH MY STUDENTS ABOUT THEM.

"SO IT'S ABOUT THAT JOY, THAT KIND OF JOY THAT SO MANY PEOPLE RELATE TO AND ARE INSPIRED BY."

BECAUSE IN READING, FOR EXAMPLE, CHERRIE MORAGA, AND SANDRA CISNEROS AS WELL, YOU KNOW, I JUST KIND OF SAW MY LIFE IN FRONT OF ME, YOU KNOW? THEY WERE SO INSPIRING AND SORT OF TAUGHT ME THAT -- NOT ONLY EXPLAINED MY LIFE TO ME, BUT KIND OF SHOWED ME THAT WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TELL OUR OWN STORIES, THAT OUR STORIES ARE INTERESTING, THEY'RE WORTH TELLING, THEY'RE WORTH PUBLISHING AND PEOPLE WANT TO READ THEM. I WAS SO HUNGRY FOR THEM AND SO GRATEFUL FOR THEM THAT IT WAS KIND OF TELLING ME, YOU KNOW, YOUR STORIES ALSO ARE NEEDED AND ARE WORTH TELLING.

"SO I FIGURED I MAY AS WELL GO ALL THE WAY AND BECOME THE TOTAL CHA-CHA I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE."

JESS>> "CONFESSIONS OF A CHA-CHA FEMINIST" RUNS THROUGH SATURDAY. IT'S PART OF A SHOW CALLED "CONTENDERS" AT HIGHWAYS IN SANTA MONICA. CHECK THE WEBSITE AT HIGHWAYSPERFORMANCE.ORG.

VAL>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

JESS>> NOW FROM ALL OF US AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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