PRIESTLY ABUSE

I am not an advocate of celibacy of priests but to suggest that it is the cause of abuse in the Catholic Church is misguided and simplistic ( Editorial, October 6).

It takes no account of the well-recognised fact that abusers have often themselves been abused.

Norman Elliott (St Heliers, Auckland) If, as you claim, a vow of celibacy is the root cause of sexual abuse by Catholic priests, how do you explain the appalling conduct of so many men in the media industry that has come to light in recent years?

Consider Jimmy Savile at the BBC, Harvey Weinstein at Miramax, Roger Ailes at Fox News, Charlie Rose at PBS and CBS, Mark Halperin at MSNBC and ABC, to name but a few.

And where is the journalistic investigation of New Zealand media outlets?

The real problem is not the rules per se but that some men in positions of authority – because of power, money or fame – believed they could get away with breaking the rules, that their victims would not speak up or be believed, or that their institutions would protect them.

That mindset of impunity is what needs to be dismantled throughout society.

Daniel Morgan (Wellington)

The Catholic Church, out of its huge wealth, should pay compensation to every abused child everywhere.

Murray Hunter (Titirangi, Auckland)