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Rick's List
Connecticut Home Invasion Murder Trial Continues; Bishop Eddie Long Speaks Out; Controversy Continues Over Pope's Role in Catholic Church Sex Scandal; Latinos Becoming Influential Voting Bloc; inventor of Facebook Gives $100 Million to Improve Public Schools
Aired September 24, 2010 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: OK, Ali, thanks so much. We appreciate it.
Topping the LIST on this day, I want you to know that we have been following these disturbing details in one of the most horrific murder cases any of us around here have ever seen, and I mean in a long, long time. And I have been a cop beat reporter most of my life.
This is the one that is taking place in Connecticut, a woman and her daughters raped, murdered in their own home. Their father is tied up -- beautiful, beautiful family. That's what they look like.
Scientists usually give some of the dullest testimony ever about the dry technical details, like DNA profiles and blood, fluid matches. In this case involving this brutal rape of an 11-year-old girl, blood evidence is a welcome respite -- seriously, a welcome respite -- to the explicit details related this week in this twisted, gory crime.
Another disturbing piece of information we have for you this afternoon, it's about this guy. He's one of the defendants on trial in this case right now. His name is Steven Hayes. This is his criminal arrest record.
It's I guess you would say his rap sheet. Let's take a look at this, if we possibly could. We want -- we want -- we want to show you pretty much how it reads. And, as you look at the very beginning of it -- come back to me, if you possibly could, Dan.
Here's -- here's the shot. I mean, here's the paperwork right here. You see all this? I mean, look. OK. There's the first page. There's the second page. This is all related to the crime he's accused of now. This is what he's done in the past.
And there's a lot of it. I mean, this guy has a really long rap sheet. We did a little research on him and found out that this guy has been a criminal his entire life, never anything compared to what we see there, here, theft of firearms and burglaries and drugs, mostly marijuana, you know, cases like that, nothing that reaches what we're looking at now here which is murder, murder, kidnapping, et cetera, et cetera.
The rest of his record is what's in many ways disturbing. The -- I think there's no question -- and we have checked around -- to say that he's been a career criminal. Seventeen years old is how old he was when he committed his first crime.
And, as you look at the pages, you get a real good sense of what he's done and what he hasn't done. Let me bring you up to date now on what we are going to be doing to -- for you as we bring you up to -- up to date on this case.
Sunny Hostin has been following the story for us. She's a legal contributor for "In Session" on truTV. She's been inside the courtroom.
When you and I talked yesterday, and we talked about the unexpected gory details that were released, the in fact -- impact that it had on Dr. Petit, a lot of folks have been tweeting and sending us e-mails talking about the impact it had on them just listening to this description of how these little girls were savagely violated.
I imagine that did not continue today, Sunny?
SUNNY HOSTIN, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: It did not continue today.
I will say today has been the day of the forensic scientists. They are -- the prosecution is trying to prove up the sexual assault charges today and the arson charges. So, it still has been a very difficult day for this family and for these jurors.
Today, the scientists basically testified, Rick, that semen was found on Mrs. Hawke-Petit, semen was found on little 11-year-old Michaela Hawke-Petit. And the scientists did connect that semen to both co-defendants, Joshua Komisarjevsky and the defendant on trial today, Steven Hayes. His semen was connected to the body of Jennifer Hawke-Petit.
(CROSSTALK)
HOSTIN: And, so, while, you know, yesterday's testimony was extremely difficult, I don't think this family has gotten a break, has gotten any respite, because the testimony today continues to be very difficult.
And right now on the witness stand, Rick, is a Connecticut state forensic fire investigator. And he is testifying about the fire that consumed this home and took the lives of the two girls. So, it's been a very difficult day in the courtroom.
SANCHEZ: You know, I -- one of the things I have been curious about is, I mean, these guys both appear to be two really stinky peas in a pod. Where did they get to -- how do they know each other? Did they meet in prison or something like that?
HOSTIN: It's very interesting. They met in a halfway house. And halfway houses have been sort of under fire, Rick, in the criminal justice system, as you know.
And they met there. It's supposed to be a place where criminals rebuild their lives and get ready to be reintroduced into society. But many say that, at halfway houses, they become better criminals. And that's where these two met.
SANCHEZ: Interesting.
HOSTIN: That's where their worlds collided, and it goes on from there.
SANCHEZ: Well, but what's interesting -- you know, a lot of folks would say, Sunny, you know, you look at their rap sheet, again, as I'm -- as I'm looking at this, I'm seeing a lot of stuff on here. These guys, at least Hayes, whose record we're looking at here, he's been a criminal his whole life, but nothing that rises to the level of what we're seeing here.
He -- he never murdered anybody. In fact, most of his crimes have not been violent. It looks like, as I go through it, it kept getting worse and worse and worse.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: But this was a big jump, obviously, the --
HOSTIN: That is true.
SANCHEZ: -- murder and the kidnapping.
(CROSSTALK)
HOSTIN: That is true.
SANCHEZ: Go ahead.
HOSTIN: It's a big jump, and it's unusual, because I looked at his arrest record also. And, as a former prosecutor, I thought, this is a guy who smashed and grabbed for a drug habit. That's what his record looked like to me, sort of, you know, these -- these robberies, burglaries --
SANCHEZ: Yes.
HOSTIN: -- but nothing violent like this.
Now, his co-defendant, however, Komisarjevsky, was a burglar. And I think that people that burglarize homes with people inside of them are capable of this type of violence. So, I think, when the two worlds, when the two men met and got together, I think they escalated the crime. They sort of brought the worst out in each other.
SANCHEZ: One final question for you I'm curious about. I notice that they're doing these trials apart. I mean, first they're going to hit Hayes. And then they're going to do Komisarjevsky.
Why are they doing it that way? And why are they doing Hayes first and then Komisarjevsky's trial?
HOSTIN: You know, it's certainly a prosecutorial tactic. It makes sense. I mean, these two -- it makes sense and then it doesn't make sense, because, quite frankly, the evidence is coming in as if they are being tried together.
But it's something that defense attorneys ask for oftentimes. They ask for the trials to be separated, so that they can concentrate on one defendant and defend their client.
Many people are saying that the younger defendant, Komisarjevsky, who is going to be tried in a year, really was the ringleader of this. But most of the evidence that's coming in ties the two together.
SANCHEZ: Hmm.
HOSTIN: So, it's a very difficult thing, I think, for --
SANCHEZ: Well --
HOSTIN: -- the jury to separate the two.
SANCHEZ: Well, the reason I asked you that question was because I'm thinking, since Hayes is the guy who seems to have had the least violent record in the past, who may have been influenced by Komisarjevsky's past, is there a possibility they're trying to get Hayes to turn on -- on Komisarjevsky?
And have we seen any evidence that during the trial where he said, this was all his idea, he's the one who led us to do this thing?
HOSTIN: We haven't -- I don't think they're going to try to turn him. He's on trial, game over in terms of plead deals. They offered to plea guilty, but they wanted death penalty off the table, and the prosecution went forward with the death penalty.
So, they're not trying to turn him.
SANCHEZ: Huh.
HOSTIN: But I will say, the judge said today, Rick, that the defense is going to put on a case next week, next Tuesday. I don't know what they're going to put on, but I guess they're going to try to minimize Hayes' involvement, and, yes, put really all of this on the other co-defendant, who everyone --
(CROSSTALK)
HOSTIN: .. is saying is the ringleader. I can't wait to see what the defense is going to do.
SANCHEZ: You're -- you're absolutely right. I mean, good luck with that, as they say.
HOSTIN: Yes.
SANCHEZ: And I should mention just, because, you know, we do a -- a show here that's very social media-driven. And I talk to folks. And they have been watching our reports and seeing the conversations you and I have -- have had. And most of the people who have sent messages have said something like this: I don't agree with capital punishment. In fact, I'm against capital punishment, many, many people have said. But if there has ever been a case where I would agree with capital punishment, it's this story that you and Sunny have been describing to us over the last week.
So, and -- that's a current theme that I have been seeing on Twitter, e-mails, and throughout social media. So, I thought I would -- I would share that with you as well, Sunny.
Hey, thanks so much. We appreciate it. And keep us up to date. If anything changes during the course of the next couple of hours, we will get you back on, all right?
HOSTIN: Thank you. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: All right.
Four days of silence is over. Bishop Eddie Long speaks out for the very first time since accusations that he had sex with teenage boys. How did he speak out, though? I'm going to let you know.
Also, Lindsay Lohan is back in the slammer, but there's this mystery man who suddenly shows up outside her courtroom. He starts yelling and screaming. Did you see this? What's he talking about? You're going to be able to see that for yourself.
That's next coming up right here on RICK'S LIST.
And look who's up. Someone is coming in a little early to take us through this.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A little early today. Happy Friday.
SANCHEZ: Before you know it, you're going show up in the A block.
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: Get out of here.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: OK.
SANCHEZ: Look who is joining us for our trending segment, early on, as they say.
BALDWIN: Moving up in the world about.
SANCHEZ: How are you?
BALDWIN: I'm doing well.
SANCHEZ: Are you happy it's Friday?
BALDWIN: I am thrilled.
SANCHEZ: I'm probably going to get in trouble because I decided to go tie-less today.
BALDWIN: I -- you know what? I like it.
SANCHEZ: The suits always say, you should wear a tie. You're a newsman.
And I should. But it's Friday.
BALDWIN: I don't know. Can I just get on my fashion horse?
SANCHEZ: Please, go ahead.
BALDWIN: You got black and navy going on.
SANCHEZ: Is that not good?
BALDWIN: I don't know. I'm not -- I don't know.
SANCHEZ: You see, you're so nice. Instead of just coming out and saying, you have got a ridiculous outfit on, Sanchez, you kind of go with this "I don't know" thing, which really --
BALDWIN: You know --
SANCHEZ: -- means, you're wearing a stupid outfit.
BALDWIN: -- now that I'm really looking at you today for the first --
SANCHEZ: It's a stupid outfit. Say it.
BALDWIN: I -- I love the button-down pink thing.
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: Like, get the Ali -- Ali got the pink memo, Sanchez.
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: We're going to get you hooked up for week.
SANCHEZ: I don't know what I'm doing out here, you know?
BALDWIN: Well, we're -- we're here to help you.
SANCHEZ: All right.
BALDWIN: We try each and every day.
SANCHEZ: All right. What -- what -- what do you got?
BALDWIN: OK. So -- so, you moved me up in the world today because this Lindsay Lohan story, more or less --
SANCHEZ: Right.
BALDWIN: -- is breaking today.
So, third time not so much the charm for Lohan, as she headed -- she's now officially in jail --
SANCHEZ: Right.
BALDWIN: -- this after she failed her mandatory drug test, which she -- remember, she tweeted about it. I think it was last week. She's on probation. She confirmed it via Twitter.
So, this morning, in a hearing that lasted all of 10 minutes, the judge ordered her back to jail for four more weeks. So, she's scheduled to be back in court in a probation revocation hearing -- oh, boy -- until October 22. This would be her longest stay in jail.
We're also told she was led away in handcuffs. Some reports say she was emotionless in the court, but, you know, kind of walked away tearfully as she got in the patrol car driven to this -- this jail in Lynwood, California.
SANCHEZ: Hmm.
BALDWIN: Now, you -- the reason you're looking at sketches, it is because, you know, no -- no cameras were allowed in the court. But, of course, cameras were -- were all over this scene from the air --
SANCHEZ: Oh, yes. This is where this gets --
BALDWIN: -- from the ground.
SANCHEZ: This gets weird, right?
BALDWIN: This is where it gets kind of weird. And this is when, you know, everybody in the newsroom went, what?
Excellent. So, helicopters there, they're following her into the courthouse. But here's the twist. And this is what you were alluding to, the weird part.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
BALDWIN: Her estranged father, Michael Lohan, so, he shows up at court with a pastor shouting about his daughter's situation.
Here's the sound. This is -- this is her dad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL LOHAN, FATHER OF LINDSAY LOHAN: I think that -- that Lindsay knows what she needs and knows what she wants, but people are just turning a blind eye when she has her weak moments in life. And she can't have any more weak moments like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So, a lot of people are also blogging about that --
SANCHEZ: Yes.
BALDWIN: -- how it's just kind of odd that he showed up. You know, there's this restraining order with her mother and the father, and doesn't exactly win world's best dad, the big backstory there.
But, also, with Lohan, remember, she had previously -- previously served like 13 days in jail -- it was supposed to be 30 -- after she violated her probation on that DUI charge. She also got out of rehab early.
We, of course, checked Twitter. Needless to say, this starlet not tweeting on the way to jail.
SANCHEZ: So, you don't have the sound of that crazy guy?
BALDWIN: Well, we -- we had the sound. Her dad?
SANCHEZ: No, the -- the other guy.
BALDWIN: No, no. The pastor?
SANCHEZ: Yes.
BALDWIN: What did -- what he did he say?
SANCHEZ: Oh, my God, you missed that. You have got to come back and show that to viewers.
BALDWIN: OK.
SANCHEZ: OK. So, the guy gets on the podium, right?
BALDWIN: We will have it next hour.
SANCHEZ: He starts screaming and yelling at the top of his lungs --
BALDWIN: I didn't see the pastor.
SANCHEZ: -- and doing this --
BALDWIN: I only saw the dad.
SANCHEZ: No, no, the day is just doing what dads do.
BALDWIN: Stand by.
SANCHEZ: He loves his daughter. And God bless him. I mean, he's going to do whatever he can. And anything he says is acceptable, because I would do anything for my daughter, no matter what she was in.
BALDWIN: We will have -- we will be on -- I'm on it.
SANCHEZ: But you got to check out the pastor's thing.
BALDWIN: Pastor, next hour.
SANCHEZ: I was waiting with bated breath.
BALDWIN: Oh, sorry. I'm -- I'm teased.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: Still love you.
All right, take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE COLBERT REPORT": My name is Stephen Colbert, and I am an American citizen. It's an honor and privilege to be here today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: But somebody asked him to leave. That's right. Who -- who asked him to leave? Stephen Colbert's visit to Congress, was it a joke or did he actually come there as a verifiable witness testifying in a very important matter to the United States? This was the question going in. We still don't know the answer.
Well, you don't. We do.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: I will explain in a bit.
Bishop Eddie Long is speaking out for the very first time about the sex allegations against him. Also, the pictures that he allegedly sent to teenage boys, is this the kind of picture that you would want your pastor sending to your son? Just asking.
This is RICK'S LIST. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Hey, welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez. Thanks so much for being with us, everyone.
The alleged sex scandal at an evangelical megachurch in Atlanta is now being propelled by something as simple as a picture -- a picture one would not usually expect a minister to text.
Here it is. Let me show it to you. It shows Eddie Long standing in a bathroom wearing spandex. As you can see by looking at his hand, he's actually taking the picture of himself on more than one occasion while he's shooting into the mirror.
But here's what's even worse. He sent it to a fourth young man who is now coming forward who is saying it was sent to him, but this fourth young man, by the way, is not yet being named in any of the lawsuits. Three other young men, as alleged in their lawsuits, are accusing Long of using his ministry to coerce them into having sex when they were just teenagers.
Long's lawyer disputes there's anything wrong with the picture, also disputes every single allegation that has been raised against their client. Pastor Long's megachurch boasts 25,000 followers. Today, we hear from him for the very first time, sort of.
A local Atlanta television station was on a -- was on a telephone conference call today between Long and parishioners from all over the country. They're -- they're holding this tape for now, but just released a couple of quotes. I'm going to take you through them.
According to CBS Atlanta, Long never once said that he was innocent, but he did say the truth would be revealed. Here's one of the quotes released by CBS Atlanta. Let me -- let me read it to you.
It says: "I have never dealt with anything like this before. I have been under attack before, but everything else has been different levels and different challenges."
We should tell you that this story is being talked about from coast to coast. I want to show you now what two guests told my colleague Anderson Cooper last night. One is a minister who was caught up in a sex scandal with a male prostitute. And that preacher, by the way, says he's been cured of being gay, whatever that means.
The other minister is a minister who is openly gay. So, these two went on my colleague's show, Anderson Cooper, "AC 360," last night. I want you to see a clip from this.
Ready? Hit it. Hit it, Dan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "ANDERSON COOPER 360")
REVEREND TED HAGGARD, SAINT JAMES CHURCH: There are some times when adultery or different things come into the pulpit and come into the church.
It's just like any ideal. We have police officers that get speeding tickets. We have we have -- we have people in Congress that write our tax legislation that don't pay their taxes. But we believe --
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, "ANDERSON COOPER 360": But, Pastor, there -- but, Pastor, Ted, there is a difference between, you know, somebody saying you should obey the law and you get a speeding ticket and somebody preaching something which is completely antithetical to a deeply-held, something that is --
(CROSSTALK)
HAGGARD: Well, I understand the point you're making.
(CROSSTALK)
HAGGARD: I understand the point you're making, and I'm sympathetic to it.
I just -- I just think it's important to understand the human condition. And this is why Christ died for all of us. It's because we have people all over the country that have said, I'm going to be married to you until death do us part, good times, bad times, et cetera, they end up divorced.
People have ideals that they violate themselves because of things that go on in the human condition. And, so, I think all of us need to be aware of that before we start name-calling too quickly.
PASTOR TROY SANDERS, NATIONAL MINISTER, THE FELLOWSHIP: OK, I'm not -- certainly -- certainly, Anderson, I'm not name-calling, but I think that there has to be a place in our religious discourse to critique Scripture, because the same Bible -- now, the premise that I cannot stand for is that homosexuality is sin or wrong, because the same Scriptures that we used to lift up that said that women could not preach, said that we could not eat pork, or that two twains of fabric could not be in, and that slavery was actually instigated and upheld by that same ancient oppressive text.
So, at some point, we have to reevaluate what we believe. And we cannot couch it in, we are all sinners and we all have our shortcomings. No, there are some things that we have to give off, we have to let go of around oppressive theology.
And homosexuality and homosexual oppression, homophobia in the church is one of those things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: By the way, Eddie Long plans to speak to his congregation Sunday, and we will have you covered on that.
Most parents cheer on their kids. But there's a woman who actually encourages something pretty outrageous. This is caught on video, and we thought you should see it. So -- so many people are talking about it.
Also, what did the pope know? It's a fascinating investigation into the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal, a real insider's look. That's next on the LIST, a special report that we will bring you.
And, as we go to break, here's a look at how we put our newscast together. It's what my staff in the morning calls the "Rick Vid." (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Sanjay said, yes, I just did something for you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The stent, this -- the heart surgery.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we can run that at 8:00. It's not a problem, if they can't get it in at 4:00.
SANCHEZ: Yes. I love that.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here's what happened. Lindsay Lohan admits --
SANCHEZ: These cases should be cut-and-dry. If you're a cop --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SANCHEZ: -- and you say you have been shot, we shouldn't be looking at it 9,000 different ways to see whether you were really shot or not.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: -- a cop.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a cop --
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: My only thing is, I feel like people are over her.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
BALDWIN: I really do. Who -- who was passionate about that story?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, I like that story.
BALDWIN: You do? Why?
(CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: What I am about to show you is a story about one of the most notorious pedophile priests. This -- this is a story about Father Lawrence Murphy. You may remember father Lawrence Murphy as a priest who abused up to 200 boys at a school for the deaf in Milwaukee. Well, the pope, who was then Cardinal Ratzinger, eventually stopped the church trial of Father Murphy and allowed him to die with the title of priest, despite what he had done.
One of those deaf boys is the first person to sue Pope Benedict, sue him directly because of his involvement, his decision-making in this trial.
National correspondent Gary Tuchman has now an exclusive interview with him. I want you to watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At a lakeside retreat in northern Wisconsin, Terry Kohut tries to escape his past. It isn't easy. Fifty years ago, when he was just 10 years old, Terry, who is deaf, was sent to the St. John's School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. What happened there to Terry and up to 200 other deaf boys is now central to the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church and to the question of what Pope Benedict, then Cardinal Ratzinger, knew about it all.
Terry Kohut has never spoken publicly about the horrors he endured at St. John's until now.
(on camera): What did he do to you?
TERRY KOHUT, ABUSE VICTIM (through translator): And then it was that afternoon I went into his office. The door was closed and Father Murphy says take your pants down.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): Father Lawrence Murphy was the headmaster and priest at St. John's for more than two decades. He was a charismatic fund-raiser and respected church leader, but Father Murphy has also been identified by dozens of deaf men who say he raped and sexually abused them for years.
Father Murphy's abuse would come to the direct attention of Cardinal Ratzinger, but his handling of the case would stun Murphy's victims.
DAVID GIBSON, POLITICSDAILY.COM: I think what the Murphy case shows is the deference that Cardinal Ratzinger and Pope Benedict would always give to the priest.
TUCHMAN: Today, Terry Kohut is suing the Vatican for what Father Murphy did to him at St. John's. His lawsuit is the first to name Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict.
Until now, Terry Kohut has been anonymous, names only as John Doe 16.
KOHUT: Yes, I was confused as to why it was happening. I mean, he was a priest. You know, I was trying to figure out, I can't believe a priest would do that.
TUCHMAN: The priest is believed to have picked out victims who were especially vulnerable or had been through tragedy already in their young lives. Terry Kohut fit that pattern.
KOHUT: My brother was electrocuted, died when I was 10. And when I was 11, my father hung himself. At 12, my favorite dog died and it tore me up. And I saw Father Murphy and I thought that he could be a second father.
TUCHMAN (on camera): Tell me why, Terry, you've decided to file suit? What do you want to see happen?
KOHUT: I want to sue the Vatican because I have been waiting for all these years for them to excommunicate, defrock Father Murphy, but they haven't.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ,: Some -- hey, Gary Tuchman is joining us now live. So much time has passed. Why is it still so important to him?
TUCHMAN: What's shocking, Rick, is that he didn't know -- we have a little problem with the audio. I may just take this out right now so I can talk to you. What's shocking is he did not know -- Mr. Kohut -- many the details until we came and talked to him because we were able to get our hands on documents that have been secret for 30 years, Vatican documents that were subpoenaed. We got them.
And within those documents, we see that Cardinal Ratzinger, the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, the group that he headed before he became Pope, had received letters from bishops all throughout the United States for decades, in many cases saying, please, we have priests in our diocese who are molesters. In some cases they're in jail. In some cases they don't want to be priests anymore. Please defrock them. Please officially get them out of the church.
And what we found in our investigation in these documents, that in many cases Cardinal Ratzinger slowed down the process. And we told these people this. We told many the deaf men this. We told other victims this. They're very shocked and alarmed, and ultimately we're seeing these lawsuits now occur.
I'm going to put this back in so I can hear your question.
SANCHEZ: Good reporting. It's a very delicate subject for the millions of us who are catholic in this country and have to deal with this from a family standpoint, explain it to our kids. Go ahead, Tuck. Go ahead.
TUCHMAN: One thing that's really important, and you brought up something very important right now, is this hour documentary is in no way, shape, or form an attack on the institution of the Catholic Church. Hundreds of millions of people in this world depend on the church for faith. It's very important. We're not doing that. What we are doing is we are attacking the low-life people who are the child molesters and pointing out the fact that there were people in the church who could have and should have done more in the 1980s and '90s. Now they are doing more. That's a fact. There are still problems but they should have and could have done more in the 1980s and '90s.
SANCHEZ: That's an important point to be made and one we discuss amongst ourselves in church and in our dinner tables as well. It's about people -- people who say they are men of god who may have made some mistakes along the way that the church is now having to reconcile with, not just now. but looking back at the decisions they made then.
Good piece of journalism, Gary. I appreciate you doing this. Gary Tuchman reporting for us.
It's the sex abuse scandal that rocked the church as a cardinal and a Vatican official. What did the Pope know? When did he know it? Two chances to watch this CNN investigation, by the way. We're going to air it for you Saturday and Sunday 8:00 p.m. eastern only here on CNN.
Is this any way to behave at a campaign forum? A Christian school, no less, is where they had this. This is a debate. We're still months away from the midterm elections and already politics is leasing to fisticuffs. We're going to show you what happens here. You'll see it for yourself.
Also, this, friends, is dodge ball on steroids, which is why it's making "Fotos" on this day. I know, kids all over America are thinking, why couldn't I go to that school, dad? This is your national conversation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: This is something that should be mandatory. Who can turn away from the TV when you have this, which, again, should be mandatory in all elementary schools? What are we talking about? Dodge ball! Not me. Here's "Fotos."
Well, you may not have felt it, but the world of dodge ball shook a bit on its axis this week. Don't laugh. The dodge ballers at U.C. Irvine take the sport very seriously. So seriously that they shattered the Guinness record for world's largest dodge ball game -- 1,700 plus players all whipping rubber balls at each other.
Who won? Who cares? We all win. It's dodge ball!
Next video. Check out the "Fotos" theme music. All great creatures large and small can't resist getting up and dancing when they hear this, thanks to Christy Hazleton, our iReporter in Colorado for sharing this video of this young elk feeling his wild oats, splashing around in the sprinklers.
Let me try that again -- splashing around in the sprinklers on a golf course. You get a free drop if a herd of elk are on the fairway, by the way. Isn't that cool? And she played the "Fotos" music for them. Rocky Mountain rules of golf, folks.
Look at this. Look in the sky. That is a man on the wire. He's possibly the most famous high wire Walker in the world. Dier Paskett with no fanfare whatsoever dazzled a crowd 30 feet below by walking between the two spires of the liberty building in Buffalo yesterday. There's no net below him but authorities made him wear a safety harness or he would have to be arrested. Good thing the dodge ball thing was happening on the other coast.
That's "Fotos." You can see them by going to my blog at CNN.com/RickSanchez.
Stephen Colbert is known for his comedy. So why did he appear as a witness giving testimony before Congress? The joke is really on the members of Congress. They don't understand who he is or what he's doing. Then again, many would argue they don't understand a lot of things in Washington. That's ahead.
Latinos could be a powerful bloc in the midterm elections if they turn out to vote. I've got a special guest on who is going to be talking to us about just how it is that they fit into the voting bloc this year. Why and how, we'll take you through it on my way to CNN doing "RICK'S LIST" with Rick Sanchez.
Who says that? He's my next guest and just tweeted that. Here he is representing as co-chairman of Voto Latino. You've seen Valderrama, right? He's on that 70s show. He's leading the campaign and joining us next.
WILMER VALDERRAMA, ACTOR, ACTIVIST: What a handsome man.
SANCHEZ: You are. You really are. We're going to be right back with more of you.
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SANCHEZ: And welcome back. You probably know him as Fez, the foreign exchange student from "That '70s Show." In fact, let's show that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VALDERRAMA (acting): I may not say this right because I don't know English, but she has tremendous breasts, yes?
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: But I should tell you now that actor and activist Wilmer Valderrama has a new project. This is called United we Win, getting young Latino voters to take part in the midterm elections. As a matter of fact, here's a clip I want to show you. This is from a star-studded PSA.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need united voice --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To demand solutions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To our country's toughest problems.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Energy, immigration.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And national security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: He's the co-chair of united we win, Wilmer Valderrama joining me from Los Angeles. It's great to see you there, man.
VALDERRAMA: Good to see you too, man. I was telling you earlier I'm a big fan of your show. You always do great and you have great points of views. It's great to see a fellow Latin having some strong views.
SANCHEZ: You're a Miami guy, too, right?
VALDERRAMA: Yes. I was born in Miami, man. And it didn't hurt. Didn't hurt at all.
SANCHEZ: You're half -- what are you have half Colombian and half Venezuelan?
VALDERRAMA: Yes, I'm half Colombian and half Venezuelan. My mother is Colombian, my father is Venezuelan. And I was raised in Venezuela most of my life and came back to the United States in 1994. And like any other immigrant family came here to work and didn't necessarily go to Disneyland or Universal Studios the first year.
But we came here to work. We have moved to Los Angeles and I've been here ever since. I'm a citizen. I'm definitely an American.
SANCHEZ: I'm thinking Colombia, Venezuela. It's like if you were a woman you'd be in the Miss Universe pageant, right?
(LAUGHTER)
VALDERRAMA: Nothing like that. I don't have those measurements because my career would have been very different right now.
SANCHEZ: There's something about those two countries. They just breed Miss Universe winners year in and year out. It's like they prepare them for it.
VALDERRAMA: It's really interesting how it happens. I think it was the World War II things, Europeans migrated and they integrated and all of a sudden we got these really fancy noses.
SANCHEZ: The long legs. They look good in those pageants.
(LAUGHTER) VALDERRAMA: The long legs exactly.
SANCHEZ: Let's get serious because you're doing something which is really serious. And I think it's important. I think to a certain extent it's a part of our population that doesn't much get talked about, but I think if you look at the numbers, if you look at the trends, we're going to see tremendous growth in Hispanic voting in this country.
Who are they, where are they and how are they representing themselves right now, because you've been looking into this?
SANCHEZ: Yes, absolutely. And this goes back to our friend Rosario Dawson. When we started this whole process it was to basically go out there and reach out, go really into the city and find these people that don't necessarily understand. This culture doesn't understand the numbers that they're quickly becoming, and the influential force they can have and the platform they can have.
That's the number one issue among Latinos is the misconception that they don't really understand that they do have an equal platform as a national member of this community and a member of the national community.
I think what's interesting is that a lot of folks who are not Hispanic -- I'm Cuban-American. You are Colombian and Venezuelan- American. And if you go through parts of Arizona and Texas and New Mexico you find people who are half-American and then they've got some Honduran and then they've got some Venezuelan. My friend Carlos Mencia is from Honduras, a lot of folks from Mexico.
It's not one type of person. They come in all different shapes and colors, so to speak. They're certainly not monolithic. The only thing recently that I believe -- you tell me if I'm wrong -- that has tended to unite Hispanics in this country is the Arizona anti- immigration law as it's been called. Agreed?
VALDERRAMA: Yes, absolutely. And that comes -- listen, I agree. There's been a number of different things that are happening, specifically historically in the last couple of years with the different elections and the land community becoming part of that momentum especially in the voting going back to the 50,000 young Latinos that turn 18 every months. That's a number that definitely people are paying attention specifically --
SANCHEZ: Say that again. Hold on. Say that number again?
VALDERRAMA: There are 50,000 young Latinos that turn 18 every month. And that's a number that's quickly going to become a deciding point on many of the elections and many of the reforms that we're going to be experiencing.
And that's something to really pay attention to. I think that that's something that all of us as Latinos and specifically any minority needs to understand that in numbers, everybody can really reform the America they want to live in. But I agree with you that this instant in time right now is when all of us are waking up and saying, wait a minute, we've been here just like anybody else. We've gone through the war. We've bled for this flag and we're worth the jobs that exist. So it's a level of trying to find that equality and find the policies that actually truly work for everybody.
SANCHEZ: Wilmer Valderrama or Wilmer Valderrama, from "That '70s Show." How is that for a little Spanglish for you? Appreciate you coming on.
VALDERRAMA: All right, Rick. Thank you for having me on your show.
SANCHEZ: Take care.
There are 100 million reasons that this man is today's most intriguing person. His generosity could change the lives of thousands of children. That's coming right up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: You know, you want to know what some people are calling the new oil? Clean water, clean enough to drink. Before long, drinking water might be too hard to find and too expensive. We need a solution. And Gary Tuchman found a guy who says he has one. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: Water - it's the most abundant resource on the planet. Yet every year millions of people die, because they don't have access to clean water. So Dean Kamen, investor of the Segway decided to take this problem on with a machine he calls the slingshot.
DEAN KAMEN, INVENTOR: We believe the world needs a slingshot to take care of a goliath of a problem, bad water.
TUCHMAN: He says the machine can take contaminated water like this dirty river water into clean drinking water by boiling, distilling, and vaporizing it.
KAMEN: In goes the bad. And as you can see, out comes the good. That is pure water.
TUCHMAN: The machine is smaller than other water purifying systems making it more portable.
KAMEN: It's ideally suited to go to places in the developing world.
TUCHMAN: Kamen says it requires little electricity and maintenance to function. But until he finds partners and distributors to keep the cost down, Slingshot won't be available to the people who need it most.
KAMEN: We have to find better strategies to deal with this incredibly unique and valuable resource called water that we have all come to take for granted but will not be able to do that in the future.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Hey, everyone, I'm Rick Sanchez. Welcome back to "RICK'S LIST." It's Friday. So glad you're here. It's time to check the list of the most intriguing person in the news on this day. Hit it!
This guy is loaded. I mean really loaded. He's 26 years old, "Forbes" magazine calls him and his business partner the youngest billionaires in America.
So what's the intriguing thing to do with a great big pile of money? Well, how about giving some of it away to people who really, really, really could use it. Done, and done. Show him, Dan. This is Mark Zuckerberg. He is a few years ago came up with the little computer thing, you know? May have heard of it. It's called Facebook.
Now head's spreading the wealth. Today he announced he's donating $100 million -- $100 million, to improve the public school system in Newark, New Jersey, a place that really needs it. And he's got it. They need it. So, put those two together. He's giving it where it will do some good.
Mark Zuckerberg today for that becomes our most intriguing person in the news.
Wolf Blitzer standing by with news just in from the political world. The CNN Political Ticker is next with the Wolfster. Stay right there. We're coming right back.
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