The Church in Crisis: Catholics’ Call for Reform
THE ISSUE: Allegations that the leaders of the Catholic Church overlooked sexual misconduct by priests.
The Vatican’s former top diplomat in the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, called for Pope Francis’ resignation, accusing him of covering up for a disgraced Theodore Cardinal McCarrick (“Rebel bishop won’t back down,” Aug. 29).
Pope Francis’ tepid response and failure to offer practical remedies to combat the crisis have profoundly disappointed many Catholics. The guilty must no longer be allowed to seek save haven in the shadows of the church. Tejinder Uberoi Los Altos, Calif.
I wonder why the Catholic Church never discusses prevention of abuse. As a former parochial student and parent of two kids in Catholic school, I have yet to see correspondence regarding prevention.
It seems we simply accept the risk, and although we hold the Church accountable afterward, no one is talking about stopping the abuse before it happens.
Sadly, I have to remind my children often to never be alone with a priest or any member of the clergy.
I love my faith and my commitment to my Church is strong, but I see a clear need to teach people how to protect their children. Deirdre Martin, Malverne
I’m appalled by the child-abuse scandal. I had a Catholic education for 17 years and served as an altar boy. The Vatican can help this crisis by allowing priests to marry. Otherwise, Catholics will be changing denominations in droves. Matt Engel Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Don’t assume there is but one group of people who call themselves Catholic. I’m Catholic and I attend only Latin mass; so far, no traditional priests whose masses I attend have been accused of molesting anyone.
When you call out people, make sure you know about all of them. Jo Dermody Little Meadows, Pa.
The Church can no longer speak to Catholics and other people of goodwill with any moral authority.
The ecclesiastical men in Rome and elsewhere can join the healing process or descend into total irrelevancy. This includes Pope Francis. The time for incremental reform has passed. Gene Roman, The Bronx
The Church has seemingly come to grips with the abuse problem.
I have always said that a large number of priests joined the clergy to get away with heinous crimes. Ray Hackinson Ozone Park