Catholic school teacher sent sexually explicit videos, photos of herself to 14-year-old student, police say



A Delaware Catholic school teacher sent sexually explicit videos and photos of herself to a 14-year-old student, New Castle County Police confirmed Wednesday to Blaze News.

Detectives discovered that 24-year-old Alanis Pinion — an 8th-grade teacher at St. Mary Magdalen School in Wilmington — frequently communicated with her students via Snapchat and had sent sexually explicit photographs to one of them, police said in a news release. Blaze News confirmed with police that "erotic" videos also were sent to the student.

When the teen asked why Pinion was sending the videos, she reportedly replied, 'Because I'm bored,' the paper said.

Pinion was taken into custody Thursday, police said, and charged with one felony count of sexual solicitation of a child under 18, one felony count of endangering the welfare of a child, and one misdemeanor count of first-degree indecent exposure. Police added that Pinion was taken to Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution after failing to pay $46,000 cash bail.

The News Journal said detectives began investigating after being contacted July 12 about videos that had been sent two days earlier via Snapchat. The paper, citing an arrest warrant, said Pinion — a Spanish teacher — had been communicating with the teen for several weeks, and it wasn't until July 10 that the "erotic" videos were sent to him.

The News Journal, citing court documents, reported that over a 30-to-45-minute span that night Pinion sent him 10 to 15 videos. When the teen asked why Pinion was sending the videos, she reportedly replied, "Because I'm bored," the paper said. The teen added to police that Pinion also said, "I'm going to be your favorite teacher forever," the News Journal reported.

The paper reported that the teen recorded the Snapchat videos on his phone while playing them on an iPad. The victim's parents allegedly instructed him to delete the videos and block Pinion, the paper said.

More from the News Journal:

By the time police got involved two days later, most of the videos had been deleted, though one was recovered on the teen's iCloud account. When detectives later searched Pinion's home, they found clothes that appeared similar to what she wore in that video, as well as bedroom furnishings that matched those recorded.

A search of her cell phone showed she had since deleted Snapchat, but phone notifications indicated she had received messages on the app from the teen at the time that she was sending him videos. Detectives also saw that the phone's camera was used during the same timeframe, the warrant says.

Police said the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was contacted, informed, and fully cooperated with the investigation.

Father James T. Kirk Jr. — pastor of St. Mary Magdalen parish — sent a letter to parents, staff, and parishioners regarding the allegations against Pinion, whom he described as a "former" part-time, contract employee, the News Journal said.

"The contractor had successfully completed the required background check process prior to her employment," wrote Father Kirk. "Please be assured that all of us at Saint Mary Magdalen Parish and School, along with our partners at the Diocese of Wilmington, always keep the safety of our children and youth as a primary goal."

Police added that they are "concerned" there could be other victims who haven't yet come forward, and police said they're urging anyone with information about this case to contact Det. Daniel Watson at 302-395-8030 or by email at Daniel.Watson@newcastlede.gov.

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Catholic school parents profane Virgin Mary statue with LGBTQ ribbons after priest refuses to re-sign gay teacher: Report



Parents who send their children to a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Seattle reportedly profaned a statue of the Virgin Mary by adorning it with LGBTQ-themed ribbons and other paraphernalia in response to a pastor's decision not to renew the contract of a teacher openly living a lesbian lifestyle in contravention to church teaching.

Earlier this month, parents with children attending St. Luke School in Shoreline, Washington, learned that kindergarten teacher Karen Pala would not be returning to the school in the fall. Pala wrote in a parent letter that Father Brad Hagelin, the pastor of the church and school, declined to renew her contract because he "does not approve of" her forthcoming "marriage" to a woman.

'Actions speak louder than words, and a teacher ideally not only teaches the faith, but also is seen as fully living it by their students.'

In response, some parents and others started a group called L.U.K.E., which "advocate[s] for Love, Unity, Kindness, and Equality," according to its website, and seeks "the immediate renewal of our beloved teacher’s ministerial covenant for the 2024-2025 school year."

Though the website further claims group members "do not endorse active protests or rallies at mass or school," it seems that some parents did not follow those guidelines. According to an exclusive report from the Post Millennial, L.U.K.E. group members interrupted mass on Wednesday morning, walking down the aisle of the church "and placed flowers tied with rainbow ribbons in front of the altar of Jesus."

Afterward, they walked outside the church and placed flowers adorned with rainbow-colored ribbons at the foot of a statue of the Virgin Mary. "The intention is to make a visual show of our unwavering support for the LGBTQIA+ community, while also honoring the Blessed Mary," the group reportedly said on its website.

That statement no longer appears on the group website. However, the website does mention the demonstration at the church and provides pictures of it, including an image of the rainbow ribbons near the Virgin Mary statue.

EXCLUSIVE: Catholic students and teachers staged an LGBTQ protest during mass, flooding the sacred halls of the Church with gay Pride items.

They placed LGBTQ flowers at the altar of Jesus and statue of Mary in protest of the priest for not renewing a lesbian teachers contract. pic.twitter.com/sE9IHsI22V
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) May 16, 2024

At least one parent, who requested to remain anonymous, was horrified by the display. "Pride ribbons placed at the feet of Mary and at the altar of Jesus is blasphemy," the parent told the Post Millennial.

KIRO reported that parents held a similar demonstration outside school on Monday morning. In that instance, though, participants merely "recited prayers and sang hymns and tried to show some level of unity regarding the issue of Karen Pala." The outlet did not report any incidents of possible sacrilege.

Fr. Hagelin defended the decision not to renew Pala's contract in a lengthy statement viewed by the Post Millennial. In the statement, Fr. Hagelin claimed that Catholic school teachers also act in a "ministerial" capacity, and as pastor, he has the responsibility to ensure that such ministers live in ways that "convey the Faith with clarity."

When teachers fail to live "in alignment with Church teaching," he continued, "a pastor might find himself unable to sign a new yearly covenant in good conscience."

"Actions speak louder than words," Fr. Hagelin added, "and a teacher ideally not only teaches the faith, but also is seen as fully living it by their students."

L.U.K.E. indicated on its website that Fr. Hagelin would be leaving the parish and school later this summer.

Alex Hagel, an attorney for Pala, issued the following statement on her behalf: "As a lifelong Catholic devoted to the teachings of her faith, Miss Pala is deeply hurt by Father Brad's decision to end her stellar tenure at St. Luke for no reason other than the fact that she is engaged to a woman."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines marriage as a sacramental "covenant by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership for the whole of life" and claims that marriage "is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring" (emphasis added).

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Biden retells yet another story completely differently than in the past, this time about becoming a Green Bay Packers fan



Joe Biden changed the details of yet another story during a speech in Wisconsin about becoming a Green Bay Packers fan while in high school.

The president was at Gateway Technical College's iMet Center on May 8, 2024, in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, speaking about Microsoft's plan to invest over $3 billion to build an artificial intelligence data center in the state.

During his comments, Biden recalled a story about how his Catholic high school influenced him to become a fan of NFL team the Green Bay Packers.

"I went to a Catholic high school in Delaware taught by the Norbertines priests from St. Norbert College ... little town, little team called Green Bay," Biden said, which incited some cheers.

"Now, here's the deal," Biden continued. "We were the only high school in Delaware who overwhelmingly rooted for Green Bay."

The crowd laughed, but Biden pressed on.

"Not a joke, I'll tell you why. Every single Sunday. Not only did they have great teams at the time, still do, but not only that, my theology professor at the Catholic school I went to was a guy named Riley. Last name. And he had been drafted by the Green Bay Packers."

"He decided to become a priest before that, so he didn't go, but every single solitary Monday that Green Bay won, we got the last period of the day off."

While it was unclear if Biden was stating that Riley was the last name or he was reading "last name" off the teleprompter, the president seemingly forgot that he has told this story previously but with several of the details being completely different.

Biden starts rambling about a "theology professor" at his Catholic high school who (allegedly) "had been drafted by the Green Bay Packers" but "decided to become a priest"
— (@)

According to Wisconsin radio station 620 WTMJ, Biden told this same story in 2011 to host John Mercure.

"He realized he was talking to a journalist in Wisconsin and started telling this elaborate story about why he roots for the Packers," Mercure recalled.

"Let me tell you something, I was taught, I went to a Catholic boys school in Claymont, Delaware, taught by an order of priests called the Norbertines," Biden said at the time. "The Norbertines had their Abbey house in DePere."

Biden then listed off some of the Packers' players of his youth before continuing.

"Every Sunday the Packers won, the headmaster Father Justin E. Diny would get on the PA system, literally, and say, 'Gentlemen no last period today.'"

"He made everyone of us Packers fans. I have a sentimental place," he continued. "Besides I'm fearful I'll go to hell if I don't root for the Packers. Father Diny may come back. I can't go against Father Diny. He'll come out of his grave if he knew I was rooting for anybody else."

There was no mention in the story of a theology professor named Riley, or anyone being drafted to the NFL but choosing the priesthood; rather, it was the headmaster who allegedly gave the students the time off.

Forgetting which authority gave the free time to the students would be easily mistakable, but the president specifically stated it was a professor who was drafted into the NFL.

The internet then went to work.

America's new President @JoeBiden is rooting for the @packers this Sunday and all Sundays.
— (@)

"According to the All Time Green Bay Packers Draft pick list there is no record of a 'Riley' or 'Reilly' that fits his story," one reader wrote on X.

Another user pointed out that there was actually a man named Maurice "Tex" Reilly drafted by the Packers in 1947.

"1947 Draft — Maurice ‘Tex’ Reilly — no record of him after that ..."

According to the All Time Green Bay Packers Draft pick list there is no record of a "Riley" or "Reilly" that fits his story.

I think maybe his draft record was eaten by cannibalshttps://t.co/EsLiD9Lh6D
Green Bay Packers Draft picks
Seasons: 104 (1921 to 2024)
— Charles R. Smith🔹 (@softwarnet) May 8, 2024

However, that Maurice Reilly actually became a Major General in the Air Force, not in the priesthood.

@PaulBranch1234 @RNCResearch also ... he was from Colorado not the Wisconsin College Biden cited
— (@)

This is just one of many of the president's peculiar tales. From the legend of a street tough named Corn Pop to claims he went to Delaware State University, the president seems to forget key details of his stories.

Not to be forgotten, Biden has also changed his story about having an "epiphany" about accepting gay marriage at least four times over the course of nearly 50 years.

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Video: Catholic HS football coach punches player during game. Coach now out of a job.



An assistant coach for a Catholic high school football team in Florida was caught on video punching a player during a game last week — and that coach is now out of a job.

What are the details?

The unnamed assistant coach for Jesuit High School in Tampa was seen striking one his players on the helmet as the player ran off the field toward the sideline during Friday night's contest against rival Tampa Catholic, WTVT-TV reported.

The defensive player wearing a number 94 jersey appeared to be trying to exit the field of play before the ball was snapped, the Tampa Bay Times said, adding the assistant coach appeared to strike the player with a closed hand.

— (@)

Jesuit High's head coach, Matt Thompson, did not identify the assistant Saturday night and would say only that “the matter is being addressed," the paper reported.

However, school president Rev. Richard C. Hermes, S.J., issued the following statement about the incident:

I am writing to make you aware of an incident that occurred this past Friday night during the Jesuit home football game. Between plays on the field, one of our part-time assistant coaches struck a Jesuit player on the helmet as the player was coming off the field and onto the sideline.

This behavior contradicts what the school stands for and is completely contrary to the expectation we have for coaches, moderators, and faculty members, who are to be role models for our students and mentors in their development as young men.

We have reached out to the student, who was not injured in the incident, and to his family. We have met with the coach and informed him that he will no longer be coaching Jesuit football or assisting the school in any other capacity.

The mission of Jesuit is to provide a Christian formation and education for our students. This requires that we maintain an environment for them that is safe, supportive, and conducive to their well-being and growth. This standard applies to all activities, inside and outside the classroom. We are reviewing our internal procedures and staff training to ensure that this standard is upheld by all Jesuit personnel, full-time and part-time.

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement in helping us to better fulfill our mission.

Jesuit won the game 66-35 and will host Pinellas Park (6-4) in the opening round of the Class 3M, Region 2 playoffs Friday, the Times reported.

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Oklahoma's top Republican officials divided on decision to approve taxpayer-funded, Catholic charter school



An Oklahoma school board's approval Monday of what would be the country's first taxpayer-funded, religious charter school met with divided responses, including among the state's top Republican officials, the Center Square and other outlets reported.

"I applaud the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board’s courage to approve the authorization for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. This is a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state, and I am encouraged by these efforts to give parents more options when it comes to their child’s education," Oklahoma Republican Governor Kevin Stitt said in a statement Monday.

"Oklahomans support religious liberty for all and support an increasingly innovative educational system that expands choice. Today, with the nation watching, our state showed that we will not stand for religious discrimination," Gov. Stitt also said.

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved the school's application Monday in a 3-2 vote.

Charter schools are autonomously-run public schools with "more flexibility in the operations and management of the school than traditional public schools." According to the National Charter School Resource Center, charter schools cannot charge tuition nor can they be affiliated with a religious institution.

The online charter school would be run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa and would be funded with taxpayer dollars, according to the New York Times.

While the Sooner State's governor applauded the decision, Oklahoma Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond decried it.

"The approval of any publicly funded religious school is contrary to Oklahoma law and not in the best interest of taxpayers," Drummond said, as the Center Square reported.

"It’s extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath in order to fund religious schools with our tax dollars. In doing so, these members have exposed themselves and the State to potential legal action that could be costly," Drummond also said.

"AG Drummond’s opposition is certainly his prerogative, but we believe his interpretation of the law is simply wrong," Brett Farley, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma told TheBlaze Tuesday morning.

Farley noted that Drummond's predecessor, Attorney General John O'Connor, "issued the very thorough and groundbreaking opinion which argued that recent Supreme Court precedent not only protects religious liberty in the context of charters, it demands it."

Farley, as Gov. Stitt, champions yesterday's decision to establish the nation's first religious charter school as a "very big step" in the direction of expanding school choice.

Ryan Walters, Oklahoma's State Superintendent of Public Instruction, like Gov. Stitt and Brett Farley, applauded the decision, describing it as "religious liberty via school choice."

"This decision reflects ... the will of the people of Oklahoma ... I have fought for school choice in all forms and this further empowers parents. We will make sure every Oklahoma parent has the opportunity to decide what is best for their child," Superintendent Walters said in a press release.

\u201cReligious Liberty via School Choice\u201d
— Superintendent Ryan Walters (@Superintendent Ryan Walters) 1685995965

Americans United for Separation of Church and State announced the organization's intention to take legal action in a press release Monday.

"State and federal law are clear: Charter schools are public schools that must be secular and open to all students ... And the government should never force anyone to fund religious education. In a country built on the principle of separation of church and state, public schools must never be allowed to become Sunday schools," the organization wrote.

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Video: Prostitutes solicit sex right outside Catholic elementary school, police handcuffed after California Democrats passed law to protect transgender sex workers



Parents of children are up in arms that prostitutes are soliciting sex work right outside a California elementary school. Some are saying that a law passed by California Democrats has handcuffed law enforcement in cracking down on sex workers selling their bodies in broad daylight.

KGO-TV conducted an investigation about prostitutes working outside St. Anthony's elementary school in East Oakland. The San Francisco-based news station captured video of sex workers dressed in minimal clothes and stiletto heels walking the streets near the Catholic school to sell their bodies in the middle of the day with students nearby.

KGO-TV reported, "The I-Team captured videos along E. 15th Street outside the school gate on four different dates over the past couple weeks showing young women wearing barely any clothing walking along the school sidewalk, the street corners, or directly across from the school. All of the videos were captured as children were being dropped off or walked into school."

Concerned parent Rosa Vargas told KGO-TV said she sees prostitutes near the Catholic school "every day, during all periods of the day."

Vargas said the sex workers solicit sex so close to the elementary school that they recently "were blocking the entrance of the parking structure" of the school.

"My daughter asked if I liked what the girl was wearing," Vargas said. "I told her don't turn around, don't look. It's not OK."

Speaking about pimps near the school, Vargas said, "They've followed me a couple times."

Oakland City Councilman Noel Gallo noted that he is receiving complaints about prostitutes every week.

Gallo stated, "I get the call saying, 'Mr. Gallo I can't get into my home because the pimp is blocking my driveway.' It's constant."

Gallo said he has seen up to 20 scantily-clad women walking up and down the street, appearing to engage in prostitution. He revealed that some of the girls are as young as 15 years old.

City officials believe some of the women are victims of human trafficking.

Some believe that recent construction along a busy highway caused the sex workers to migrate to residential neighborhoods.

St. Anthony's has requested more police patrols in the area.

However, St. Anthony's pastor Ghebriel Woldai said, "It's not enough. They promised us they will do more presence here."

Woldai said the parish had requested more patrols from the Oakland Police Department for years, but to no avail.

Rodney Pierre-Antoine – who oversees seven Catholic elementary schools, including St. Anthony's – said the hands of the police "are somewhat handcuffed."

Pierre-Antoine is referencing Senate Bill 357, known as the Safer Streets for All Act.

SB 357 states:

Existing law prohibits soliciting or engaging in an act of prostitution, as specified. Existing law also prohibits loitering in a public place with the intent to commit prostitution, as defined, or directing, supervising, recruiting, or aiding a person who is loitering with the intent to commit prostitution, or collecting or receiving all or part of the proceeds of an act of prostitution. Under existing law, a violation of any of these provisions is a misdemeanor. This bill would repeal those provisions related to loitering with the intent to commit prostitution and would make other conforming changes.

Fatima Shabazz of DecrimSexWork CA Coalition – a "coalition of current and former sex workers, organizers, and allies" – said of the bill, "SB 357 repeals a Jim Crow law that criminalized black and trans people in public spaces."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 357 into law in July, and it went into effect on Jan. 1.

Police officers told KGO-TV that the new law is prohibiting them from rescuing women who they believe are victims of human trafficking.

California State Sen. Scott Wiener – a Democrat who introduced SB 357 – defends the bill.

Wiener argued, "It allowed police officers to arrest a person, not based on what they did, but based solely on how a person looks. So an officer could arrest someone because they were wearing tight clothing, high heels, and extra lipstick."

Wiener's office said, "This criminal provision — arrests for which are based on an officer’s subjective perception of whether a person is 'acting like' or 'looks like' they intend to engage in sex work — results in the disproportionate criminalization of trans, black and brown women, and perpetuates violence toward sex workers."

Wiener conceded, "That footage is very troubling. We don't want sex work and solicitation happening by schools, it's not acceptable for the children and the neighbors."

Wiener said police officers who said they were handcuffed by the new law were "dead wrong," and utilizing a "copout." He alleged that the issue has been around longer than the new law.

He advised police to arrest the pimps and johns.

Oakland officials promise to increase police patrols and install new cameras after the eye-opening report was published.

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Video showing alleged sex workers soliciting outside CA school sparks call for action www.youtube.com

In Courts Across America, Religious Liberty Is On The Docket In 2023

'Emerging area'
Detroit Free Press/Getty Images

Parents, Catholic school sue Michigan officials over ‘gender identity’ law

Michigan's Civil Rights Act

Federal judge rules Catholic school was wrong to fire gay teacher



A federal judge in North Carolina ruled recently that a Catholic high school in the state was wrong for firing a gay teacher after he announced plans to marry his male partner on Facebook.

What are the details?

In a ruling issued Friday, U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn determined that Charlotte Catholic High School and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Charlotte violated Lonnie Billard's workplace sex discrimination protections when they terminated his employment in 2014.

Cogburn dismissed the constitutional protections granted to religious organizations in his decision, citing Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado to argue that "our society has come to the recognition that gay persons and gay couples cannot be treated as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth."

"For that reason," Cogburn wrote, "The laws and the Constitution can, and in some instances must, protect them in the exercise of their civil and employment rights."

"The exercise of their freedom on terms equal to others in employment and all other aspects of life must be given great weight and respect by the courts," he added.

Cogburn granted summary judgment to Billard with the ruling. Now, a forthcoming trial will be held to determine what relief the former teacher will receive.

What else?

In a statement Saturday, diocesan officials said they "respectfully disagree" with the judge's ruling "and are considering next steps," the Charlotte Observer reported.

"The First Amendment, federal law, and recent Supreme Court decisions all recognize the rights of religious organizations to make employment decisions based on religious observance and preference," the officials reportedly said. "They do not — and should not — compel religious schools to employ teachers who publicly contradict their teachings.

"The Catholic schools offered by the Diocese of Charlotte exist to provide high-quality education and transmit the Catholic faith to the next generation. Like all religious schools, Catholic schools are permitted to employ educators who support our Church's teachings and will not publicly oppose them," they added.

Anything else?

Billard, a former drama teacher and substitute teacher at the high school, said he felt "a sense of relief and a sense of vindication" after the ruling.

"I wish I could have remained teaching all this time," he said in a statement, issued by the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina. "Today's decision validates that I did nothing wrong by being a gay man."

The ACLU, which represented Billard in the case, called the decision "a victory for LGBTQIA employee protections."

"Religious schools have the right to decide who will perform religious functions or teach religious doctrine, but when they hire employees for secular jobs they must comply with Title VII and cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation."

Here's more about the story:

Lawsuit against Charlotte Catholic High School can go to trial, judge says www.youtube.com

School ‘Lost Its Way’ To ‘Woke Culture’: Couple Who Donated $1.35 Million To Catholic School Sue For Money Back

'You were always eager to solicit our hard-earned money and take what you could'