The Church’s Duty: Facing Demons of Abuse

THE ISSUE: The Catholic Church’s handling of widespread sexual abuse of children by priests.

Concerning sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, and now the possibility Pope Francis knew about it, I am appalled by this hypocritical behavior (“The Vatican’s Challenge,” Editorial, Aug. 28).

In all my years of Catholic-school training, we were told how we would suffer the pangs of hell, fire and fury if we committed one little sin.

We were told we needed to confess these sins to priests — and now we find some of them were committing these outrageous acts on innocent children. Ruth Ternyila Long Beach

Paul Dunn, who says he was a victim of sexual abuse as a child, might have had his soul murdered when he was 10 years old by someone who was supposed to keep him safe (“Save it for the day of judgment,” Aug. 26). His life was ruined, and no amount of money can change that.

He is one of thousands who have come forward decades later. There are surely thousands more who are unable to speak out.

Children are victimized every day by priests, rabbis, teachers and family members, and their lives will never be the same.

Until these victims aren’t haunted by their past, the statute of limitations should be extended. Jill Gordon Boynton Beach, Fla.

I am in my early 70s and was raised a Catholic. In my early teens, I began to question the utter hypocrisy of a religion that would seize upon the fears, poverty and low education in Scotland and elsewhere.

Now the crimes of rape and pedophilia and the physical and mental cru- Pope Francis elty perpetrated by members of the Catholic clergy have begun to surface. Those who committed horrendous acts have been sheltered.

The money paid out to sexual-abuse victims comes from hard-working worshipers who seek comfort in their religion.

Those guilty of such crimes should be brought to justice, together with those who covered up those crimes. The victims will forever be in pain. John Mellon Port Jefferson Station

Dunn states he was abused, starting at the age of 10. The diocese wanted to buy him out, and he refused.

My congratulations to him for taking a stand and not letting them get away with another cover-up.

This happens not only in the Catholic Church, but in Protestant and Jewish institutions as well. And it is seldom that you hear of a priest, minister or rabbi paying the price for his crimes.

Parents should report these crimes, take it through the courts and hopefully a judge will hand out an appropriate sentence for sexual abuse. Church leaders have been hiding behind the cloth for far too long. Pete Calegero Red Hook

Kevin Williamson is right about the cause of the “falling away” of American Catholics from the practice of true Catholicism (“Mass Exodus,” PostOpinion, Aug. 26).

The American hierarchy shamefully stopped believing what the Church teaches decades ago.

How do we start a “bring back the original Church” campaign? I think we start at the top. John Mohan Boston, Mass.

The pope should initiate a worldwide policy: Reports of sexual abuse will be turned over to the police for proper investigation and resolution. That takes the matter out of the ill-equipped hands of the Church.

This will help restore faith in the Church as parishioners reclaim the values we hold dear. Deirdre Harvey Valley Stream

When Paul Castellano, reputed head of the Gambino crime family, was murdered outside Sparks Steakhouse in 1985, John Cardinal O’Connor made the bold move to deny Castellano a church funeral, citing the “notoriety” of his background.

If it’s proven that Pope Francis ignored damning information about Theodore Cardinal McCarrick and allowed this predator to continue to serve, then maybe the pope should also be denied a church funeral. He’ll have proven himself to be the most famous crime boss in the world. Duc Nguyen The Bronx