[LOSER]
CATHOLIC CHURCH: Just days before his trial was expected to begin, all charges against a Cincinnati priest accused of molesting a boy in West Virginia were dropped Aug. 27. The Rev. Robert Poandl allegedly abused a boy on a trip there in 1991, when the complainant was just 10 years old. The case was dropped due to unspecified issues during the discovery process related to the boy's medical records. In March, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests wrote to 11 bishops in dioceses where Poandl worked, asking them to use their resources to contact others who might have been sexually abused by him, but only one in Texas replied. As SNAP has said, “Now more than ever, it's time for these bishops to step up to the plate, do their civil duty, honor their moral obligation, and help law enforcement get to the bottom of these accusations against Poandl.” Well put.
[WINNER]
QUEEN CITY BIKE: The bicycling advocacy group received a $10,000 grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation to help launch a new program to get more people riding bicycles to more places throughout the region. The Bicycle Friendly Destinations Program will work with area employers, retailers, government agencies and arts and cultural organizations to make it easier for people to reach their facilities on a bicycle. The goal is to increase the use of bicycles for all kinds of trips whether to work, to go shopping or just to run errands in their neighborhood. Places that participate will be recognized in a ceremony next spring.
[LOSER]
MIKE WILSON: The Cincinnati Tea Party leader who is running as a Republican in the race for the 28th District seat in the Ohio House is facing an elections complaint. Wyoming resident Maynard Johnson alleges Wilson broke Ohio law by illegally accepting 206 campaign contributions before registering his campaign committee. Also, Johnson alleges Wilson failed to report his pre-primary campaign report in accordance with law. It's not a good sign when someone who wants to be a lawmaker doesn't even know the laws currently on the books or ignores them. We already have enough politicians in office who think the rules don't apply to them.
[LOSER]
CHICK-FIL-A: TV commercials say cows like this fast food chain, the second-largest chicken-based restaurant in the United States, but people who favor tolerance and equal rights should have serious misgivings. That's because Chick-fil-A is co-sponsoring Citizens for Community Values' 23rd annual Celebrity Golf Classic fundraiser next week. The action really leaves a foul taste in our mouths. CCV is the Sharonville-based group that promotes anti-gay laws like Ohio's ban on same-sex marriage. Of course, CCV and Chick-fil-A have every right to lobby for whatever bigoted, backward laws they want, just as we (and our readers, hopefully) have every right to snub the chain in favor of KFC.
