We hope this action will get the diocese’s attention
I am a long-standing Catholic who is writing in response to the grand jury report on priest abuse. There is much moral outrage within the Catholic membership. But moral outrage and “thoughts and prayers” have limited benefit to the victims.
The victims and their supporters are asking for resignations and legislative action.
Withholding financial support is an action Catholics can take to effect change.
Our family is setting aside our regular weekly contributions except for $1. We are putting $1 in the weekly donation envelope to show that we are “one” with the victims. We will do so until we see concrete action; we are encouraging others to do the same.
Our intent is not to be punitive; it is to get the attention of the diocese.
In a TV interview last week, Bishop David Zubik expressed hurt at the suggestion of resignation since he worked so hard during his tenure.
For the good of the Pittsburgh Diocese and, more important, the victims, leadership needs to change. This is part of the healing process. It’s not about legacy. KATHY SHIMKO
West Mifflin the victims who have suffered so much for so long.
My deepest regret is for my grandkids and all the other young folks who have to shape their futures around the nonperforming, nonengaged, socalled leaders who are self-centered and do not see the big picture for the people and the USA. BILL REILLY
Whitehall
I applaud the grand jury for its two-year investigation of sexual abuse by priests and cover-up by the bishops over the past 70 years. Your paper has shared the devastating news. Hopefully it leads to continuing changes by dioceses worldwide in facing this issue. Hopefully legislators will respond to all four recommendations so that the Catholic Church and all institutions and organizations will protect children and teens.
The Aug. 18 PG listed Pittsburgh priests and their grand jury information. One is the Rev. Don McIlvane, who was a champion of civil rights and racial equality and an outspoken critic of corruption in city, state, federal and Vatican affairs. He was opposed to the war in Vietnam and the militarization of our country.
For those who did not have time to read his entire report, one man accused him of abuse. An investigation was conducted, and the Diocesan Review Board “voted unanimously that there was no semblance of truth to the allegations.” REV. JOHN OESTERLE
Uptown
We welcome your opinion
This, of course, is not news. His odious treatment during the presidential campaign of the late Capt. Humayun Khan’s Gold Star parents told us all we needed to know about this president’s personality: It consists exclusivelyof a monstrous ego that has devoured all its other traits, compassion foremost among them. It is a beast that must be daily, if not hourly, fed, even at the expense of KIAsand former POWs.
Servicemen and -women, veterans and their families should ask themselves if this is the level of respect they deserve from a commanderin chief. C.J. STORELLA
Forest Hills
The current president has successfully created an environment where intelligent people consider any criticism of his administration a tacit endorsement of his defeated rival in the general election. Many lamented this election as “the lesser of two evils.”
Some of those same folks will now suspend critical thinking in order to insulate the “winning” candidate from scrutiny as a direct result of this masterful manipulation. If forced to choose between losing an arm or a leg to cancer, we would all surely find reasons to justify our decision, despite the inevitable unpleasant outcome.
However, it would seem that a large number of the electorate would now endorse cancer in the limb that was spared, rather than find a way to save that limb as well. RYAN A. SPENCE
Monongahela