Abuse is no surprise

Re: “French Catholic Church inquiry finds 216,000 sex abuse victims from 1950,” (BP, Oct 5).

Yes, the numbers are horrifying, but that there were “some 216,000 victims of paedophilia from 1950 to 2020” at the blessed hands of French Catholic priests, deacons and other clergy is not surprising.

The Catholic Church is not special. It is just one more ideology of zealous true believers doing exactly what is done by despotic institutions, whether sacred, secular or both. Has there ever been any exception? Has any revered and sacred institution protected from transparency and accountability ever acted differently?

It is certain, by the very laws and social taboos against free speech with which they veil their acts from fair comment, that there can be no credible denial of what appears a most likely truth.

The Catholic Church has merely done what all such unspeakable institutions have always done in their dark places veiled from public scrutiny and just exposure. Unless called to account by the superior morals of liberal democracy founded on ideals of reason and humanism, it will continue to act as it has for at least the past 1,600 years. That is what all such despots naturally do.

Why else would they need secrecy, gorgeous dress, huge statuary, monumental architecture, and taboos to hide behind? FELIX QUI