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	There Is No Excuse Priest, Jesuits Should Apologize, Then Settle Child-Support Claims Anchorage Daily News [Alaska] February 10, 2007 http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/8629509p-8521814c.html Sometimes, an excuse comes around that is so insulting, so offensive that it surprises even the most cynical among us. Such is the case with the Rev. James Jacobson, who served in Alaska in the 1960s and 1970s, and his Jesuit order. Two grown men fathered by Mr. Jacobson in 1966 and 1975, and one of the mothers, are suing the Roman Catholic priest and the Jesuits for child support. Though he worked as a paid chaplain in an Oregon prison from 1979 to 2005, Mr. Jacobson never paid any child support, according to the lawsuit. The excuse offered by the priest and the Jesuits is that Mr. Jacobson took a vow of poverty when he joined the order and turned over all income to the Jesuits. And the Jesuits said in court papers that they don't have to pay child support for their priests. Since when does a vow of poverty provide any moral or legal protection to block child-support responsibilities? And even if such a ridiculous shield does exist, shouldn't Mr. Jacobson's obvious violation of his vow of chastity render his poverty protection null and void? And why should his two children, who presumably suffered by his irresponsibility, pay for his choice to give away his money -- especially when that money is given to the Jesuits, who were irresponsible in their own handling of the matter? Just think of all the parents who might claim a similar vow of poverty if it could mean escaping their child-support responsibility. Sure, it's unusual to see a case of adults going after their father for back child support, but this is an unusual case. The court did not establish paternity until 2005, when DNA testing proved Mr. Jacobson was the father. This case is made even more offensive by evidence showing that the Jesuits were aware of the allegations that Mr. Jacobson had fathered two children while stationed in Western Alaska. The bishop simply assigned the priest to another community in Alaska. For the sake of justice and fairness and healing, the Jesuit order and Mr. Jacobson should apologize to the mother and the two men, then to the villagers. And then they need to negotiate a fair settlement. BOTTOM LINE: Hiding behind religion to escape child support is offensive. Alaska Almanac 9 -- Percentage drop in births of fur seal pups in the Pribilof Islands, 2004-2006. 8 -- Number of legislative ethics bills that state House leaders plan to combine into one reform omnibus measure. 7 -- Percentage growth expected in the dollar value of construction projects in Anchorage this year. 6 -- Number of teens who appeared in Anchorage court this week on charges stemming from an alleged gang assault at a New Year's Eve party in 2005. 5 -- Goals scored so far this season (as of Thursday) by UAA's Chad Anderson, tops among the hockey team's defensemen. 4 (billion) -- Estimated dollar value of overseas exports from Alaska's economy in 2007. 3 -- Number of missile interceptor fields eventually planned at Alaska's Fort Greely. 2 -- Number of children fathered out of wedlock by Alaska Catholic priest James Jacobson. 1 -- Number of Anchorage teens who hold full voting membership on a municipal board or commission. 0 -- Number of teens who could hold voting membership on municipal boards if the Assembly passes an ordinance offered by Assemblyman Dick Traini. Sources: Daily News files
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