We are outraged but committed to our faith

We, the men of St. Anne Catholic Men’s Fellowship, are compelled to speak out on the sexual abuse of children committed over the past several decades by hundreds of priests and deacons across our state and throughout the world.

Our first concern is to pray for the victims and to do everything we can to prevent this from happening again. We are profoundly outraged and sorrowful that so many men who vowed to follow Jesus Christ would commit such atrocities. All clergy and others in authority in the church who commit or cover up sexual abuse of children should be removed from ministry and punished to the full extent of the law.

We also pray for all the faithful and holy priests who have led us and who will now face unjust persecution due to the evil actions of others. These men have stood with us and brought to us the Gospel and the sacraments. They have shown us the mercy of God, and we will also act out of mercy as this is the only way to establish peace in our world.

Finally, and most difficult of all, we will keep those priests and deacons who committed such vile acts against children in our prayers, that by the grace of God they may admit their guilt and face the justice of this world but in the process repent and find salvation.

The Catholic Church exists to conform us to Christ. As is written in the letter to the Hebrews, “Let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.”

We recommit ourselves to our Catholic faith and call on all Catholics to do the same. JOHN LEWANDOWSKI St. Anne Catholic Men’s Fellowship

Castle Shannon The writer signed the letter on behalf of the other members of the group.

Think of ‘the flock’

Regarding the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh’s On Mission for the Church Alive initiative: Once again, Bishop David Zubik, although he was a parish priest for a few years, he never was a pastor, and he has deceived us. The first time was when he and his “committee” made the plea for pledges of much money to improve and repair the churches in the diocese (roofs, heating, painting, etc.), Sure, many parishioners made donations and pledges for a year or more. (According to diocese records, the result was overwhelming and the pledges amounted to more than $200 million from the faithful!)

We were never told until years afterward that many of our churches would be closed and our current pastors would be assigned by him and his “committee” to other parishes. (Talk about a “bait and switch.”)

How disappointing and sad this whole “fundraiser” has become! Over 40 percent of our current pastors are assigned to other churches against their choice, and many of these pastors want to stay with their “flocks” — especially during this tragic time of deception by the Catholic Church. Isn’t that a natural reaction from a pastor for his “flock”?

But, once again, Bishop Zubik has never been a pastor, so how would he really know what it is like to be a pastor? He never experienced this closeness and has no sympathy for those who do. He has been asked hundreds of times to care about these downhearted and upset parishioners and priests; I am surely saying that he does not care.

Bishop Zubik got his money. Too bad for us. MICHELE M. LUCAS Wilkins

Obama’s speech

By saying he fell asleep during President Barack Obama’s speech, President Donald Trump showed not only meanness but ignorance. He would have done better to have listened closely to Mr. Obama’s perceptive remarks and learned something from them. Reading Mr. Obama’s words as quoted in your article (Sept. 8, “Obama Issues Scathing Critique of Trump, ‘Politics of Fear’”), I felt a breath of sanity and patriotism return to the national dialogue.

However, I think Mr. Obama thought long and hard before he reluctantly spoke out because of the long-held tradition for a past president not to discuss the current president, and he finally felt compelled to do so because our politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, for the most part, haven’t shown the courage or will to speak truth to power. I find that very disheartening. We need heroes.

I’d like to add that I wish Mr. Trump would stop saying “drain the swamp,” and “witch hunt.” Swamps are environmentally necessary for the planet’s well-being, and draining them was, and still is, usually done for profit by big businesses. “Witch hunts” were a horrible practice of mob rule. In many cases, they were caused by men wanting to cheat widows out of their land, by someone wanting to get even with someone for a perceived insult or from fear of a harmless person who was eccentric, none of which applies to Mr. Trump. HELEN WILSON

Squirrel Hill