Abuse Of Power Quotes

“This may sound corny, but sometimes, truth and justice do prevail. When I met you, I marveled at your faith, your capacity to believe. Believe in this, Jennifer. Believe I am going to win this case because I am. Believe the boys will get through this. They will be happy and strong someday soon. Believe, Jen! Believe!”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“From your mouth to God’s ears. Let’s get these bastards.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“. . . Jennifer can’t be bought with money or threats. She wants this predator stopped. She wants the church to stop protecting or covering up for him. Settle this reasonably with no gag order or confidentiality clause. Do the right thing for a change. Only then will she consider a settlement.”
“See you in court.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“I can’t clear these disgusting images from my mind! They are haunting me!”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“The jury would understand. The verdict must be joint and several—against all defendants. Otherwise, it would have no impact. The jury knows this, don't they? For the sake of the children, Zachary Blake had to make them understand.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“Weird—no one is this popular, There wasn't a single negative comment, which made Micah even more suspicious. Some sort of parishioner conspiracy of silence? Could the church organize everyone's silence on a grand scale? Can all church members be this loyal? Were they paid off?”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“We can’t have one rogue priest’s problems causing a major scandal.” Why don’t you send this guy to a monastery or something?”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“The boys were only fourteen and twelve years old at the time, happy go-lucky, fun-loving boys, like your sons, nephews, or grandsons. Their
whole lives were in front of them. Their worries and concerns were the simple ones of any twelve or fourteen-year-olds. Who are my teachers this
year? Will I have friends in my class? Will Mom buy me an iPhone? Will the Lions, Tigers, Pistons, or Red Wings have good seasons? Will I do well in school? Will my parents be proud of me? Will I be invited to cool parties? Will I meet a girl? These should be the problems of Kenny and Jake Tracey. Instead, they worry about whether they can ever get the filthy and disgusting acts of this degenerate out of their minds.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“The sign on the ticket dispenser announced parking was $1.20 per twenty minutes, up to a maximum of $18.00. I should have gone into the parking lot business, less stress, more money.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“. . . here I am, on some damn crusade to save the world’s children. I should have been thinking about saving my own. How can I protect other parents’ children when I can’t even protect my own?”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“If Love’s testimony is corroborated, there will be indictments. Do you understand me? If you want to have me recused, go for it! Know this, however. You will have an enemy on the Wayne Circuit Court bench for life!”
“Your Honor, I’ve changed my mind,” Walsh capitulated. “I have confidence in your ability to render a fair and impartial decision in the obstruction matter.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“The boys were only fourteen and twelve years old at the time, happy go-lucky, fun-loving boys, like your sons, nephews, or grandsons. Their whole lives were in front of them. Their worries and concerns were the simple ones of any twelve or fourteen-year-olds. Who are my teachers this year? Will I have friends in my class? Will Mom buy me an iPhone? Will the Lions, Tigers, Pistons, or Red Wings have good seasons? Will I do well in school? Will my parents be proud of me? Will I be invited to cool parties? Will I meet a girl? These should be the problems of Kenny and Jake Tracey. Instead, they worry about whether they can ever get the filthy and disgusting acts of this degenerate out of their minds.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“In the next few days, he’d receive his verdict. Win or lose, he feared Jennifer would soon be gone. He stood under the cascade, head down, until the water turned cold. Jennifer was correct, as usual. The money didn’t mean a damn thing.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“Have dinner with me tonight. I can fill you in on my conversation with Micah.”
“And if I say no?” She wouldn’t have.
“Then, I’ll keep my discussions with Micah to myself.”
“Zack, that’s bribery.”
“Sue me.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“How could the church buy off a whole town?”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“The counselor briefed Jennifer as soon as she arrived. He told her about the altercation, the punch, and the offensive language and behavior that sent Jake into hysterics. She demonstrated a brave front but was dying inside. How much pain must my boys endure? Is this how it is going to be from now on? Will we have to transfer to a different school?”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“Zack was confident he secured a verdict against the priest. He was frantic that his efforts would fall short against the true financial source, the church. What good is an uncollectible seven or eight-figure verdict?”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“He placed his coffee cup in the MKZ's fanncy cup holder and drove off. If the woman who sued McDonald's had an MKZ, she'd never have burned her crotch. Then again, she'd never have sued, and she would have all that dough.  She could afford a Lincoln now.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“Jennifer would turn down this indecent amount  of money and more, put her own kids through a public trial, to protect other kids from experiencing the trauma they suffered. Incredible!”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“What’s that?” Zack fretted.
“One’s dead—janitor at the church where Gerry did his dirty work before Michigan. Died yesterday. We think he was killed, but autopsy results are inconclusive. They’ve ruled out homicide, and the official cause of death is ‘cardiac arrest.’”
“The church strikes again? People are being murdered?” Zack seethed.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“And that damn Jew lawyer! They thought he was a lightweight. They thought they could buy him off. All they did was piss him off, and he's better than they thought he'd be.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“I could have accepted the church’s offer of treatment. I could have left things at that. I didn’t have to drag my children through a public trial and cause them even more harm. What was I thinking? I could make a difference? What a joke! You can’t fight these people, Zack. You did a great job trying. You really did. But in the end, money and power will always prevail.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“Jesus, Zack, will you stop kidding around? We’ve had one dinner.”
“Jesus? Name’s familiar … I can’t place it. Wasn’t he Jewish?”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“She thought of the old I Love Lucy television show and the Desi Arnez line: Lucy, you have some 'splaining to do.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, probation, no jail time . . . He knew fourth degree meant simple 'touching.' What was wrong with simple touching? Why would anyone be sent to prison for that? Ridiculous!”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“He looked up and down the block. Every house seemed identical except for the respective paint job. Every home had a screened-in pool. Ah, Florida. What was life like with summer all year long? He wiped sweat from his forehead and put his nose to his armpits, immediately deciding that fall, winter or spring weren't so bad.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“According to my research for this case, pedophilia is a treatable, but incurable condition. The worst place for a pedophile is a church.”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“Jenny, if this case develops anti-Semitic overtones, I can deal with them. I’m a big boy. Sticks and stones can break my bones, and all that shit . . .”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“Whatever money can’t buy, a little leverage can buy, right?”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith

“A bishop in the church swore on oath, to tell the truth in this court, and then lied to you, ladies and gentlemen! Are we surprised? What do we expect from a man who conspires to obstruct justice, tampers with witnesses, plants listening devices in people's homes and offices, and offers huge amounts of cash in exchange for silence?”
― Mark M. Bello, Betrayal of Faith