The Vatican must take practical steps now
“Thoughts and prayers” don’t cut it.
The letter finally released by Pope Francis contained the expected appeal to pray for the victims as well as prayers for the criminals in the church. How nice. But such appeals do not address the practical steps necessary to begin solving this hideous problem.
First and foremost, the Vatican has to defrock the offenders. They should lose all power to continue to officiate in the sacraments of the church. The pope has the authority to do this, but he did not indicate any action along those lines. And this means that the church no longer feeds and houses them (or pays their medical insurance).
Then turn all records of those living over to local district attorneys for trial. In any other profession, this is the process. If a doctor or lawyer sexually assaulted a patient or client, he/ she would not be sheltered in a monastery somewhere and told to pray and reflect.
This scandal most likely will overshadow the older scandal of the church in the history books, the Inquisition. More than 60,000 heretics and witches were burned at the stake for their alternative views. That one is often chalked up to ignorance during the medieval period, but this scandaldefies any excuses. REBECCA DENOVA
South Side of the time. They weren’t. Their failure is due in large part to living and working within a sanctimonious reality.
The Catholic Church has been blessed with a rich theology. I find it to be the least imperfect of all imperfect choices. But never has a church been given so much and messed it up so thoroughly. The church (the people) isn’t broken. The structure is. The time for apologetic words is over. Action is necessary. Change must happen.
RAY MUTH Jefferson, Butler County
As a former Catholic myself, I have attended mostly black churches during the past 30 years. I suggest that Catholics who are reeling from the horrors of the church give some thought to attending one of the many mostly black churches in the area as well.
You will be welcomed with open arms, I assure you, for it is in the black churches that the people truly understand how faith and belief in the power of Jesus Christ can calm the soul and lift the spirit. After all, how else do you think AfricanAmericans have endured and overcome as much as they have in this country? They truly will understand the pain that you are feeling and will welcome you with open arms in these trying days. For as we all know, in Jesus we are all one. RANDOLPH A. MATUSCAK
Donora
We welcome your opinion
readers are affected. But this unfortunate decision is to the detriment of all generations.
In our home, we gather and discuss the newspaper every day as we attempt to nurture a love of learning in our young children. Each morning, our 3-year-old daughter demands, “I want some newspaper!” It’s a little sad that our now-6-month-old son will not have the same experience.
A physical newspaper reminds us all that news is real — it does not simply appear out of thin air onto a screen, and it is important. We will miss that in our household. MARGARET RENCEWICZ TANGLEN
Aspinwall