Sister Sheila McNiff feels "confident that the steps to prevent abuse ... have resulted in a safer environment for all of our children and young people." I wish I could say the same. Unfortunately, nothing the Los Angeles Archdiocese has done, especially under the guidance of Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, is sufficient to alleviate my fears.

McNiff insists that the cases of abuse dropped off during the 1980s because of actions taken by the church. But in most cases involving rape, incest and molestation, the victim rarely goes running to authorities or parents for comfort, much less to reveal the culprit. There is no reliable data to prove that abuse has stopped altogether.

I also find it disturbing that although Mahony interfered in a criminal investigation, he has come out unscathed.

The only way the archdiocese can come clean is to release all files on priests who have allegedly molested children to law enforcement and allow it to complete its investigations.

Until then, McNiff's tame speech will only be seen for what it is, a public relations gesture.

Todd Groves

Santa Monica

I don't believe that the statistics in this article necessarily mean that there is now less abuse in the L.A. Archdiocese. If many victims come forward only when they become adults, the lower numbers for the recent years might spike as current victims grow up. In fact, the numbers in the early years of Mahony's administration are as high as 40 years ago.

The statistics that would indicate that there are truly fewer cases happening now are the number of people with criminal backgrounds who were disqualified from working in the ministry and thus were prevented from abusing, and how many cases after one allegation were successfully prosecuted or resulted in a person being permanently removed from ministry. These actions would result in lower statistics now and in the future.

I hope that the Victims Assistance Ministry has such numbers that indicate the archdiocese is promptly expelling the perpetrators of sexual abuse and protecting children, so that many families will be saved from the painful scars of sexual abuse.

Christina Chiang

Agoura Hills

Teachers' lessons from the past

Re "Flying lessons," Opinion, Dec. 16

Barry Smolin's article moved me to tears. As a former educator, I too lament the restraints put on our teachers' creativity. I think his article should be posted in every teachers lounge in the country. Despite the constraints that teachers are working under today, if they can just remember to instill inspiration for learning, then they too can encourage their students to spread their wings and fly. As certainly as George Schoenman did then, and as certain as Barry Smolin continues today.

Bobbie McIntyre

Seal Beach

With its recent inspirational articles on two Fairfax High teachers, Marilyn Moody ("Still acting up for the 'best' drama teacher," Dec. 3) and George Schoenman, The Times may be reflecting the same spiritual longing that so many teachers I work with are experiencing. As school boards mandate more test-driven lessons, more scripted classes and more English courses devoid of literature, where else do we educators have to turn for motivation but back to the icons of our own pasts, back to the memories of our own teachers like Schoenman and Moody, who inspired so many to enter a profession in which dreams and hopes used to matter.

OPINION » One world? Obama's on a different planet By John R. Bolton The senator's Berlin speech was radical and naive. EDITORIALS|OP-ED|LETTERS				FROM THE BLOGS Opinion L.A. Opinion L.A. The best in Southern California opinion journalism, Monday through Friday Why should you pay for Fannie and Freddie? Fri, July 25, 2008 | 6:14:18 PM PDT Aren't the worst-case scenarios about the death of the dollar and irreperable... more » Bit Player By Jon Healey Bit Player Jon Healey on Hollywood's love-hate relationship with technology. A Paramount movie integrated into Sony web programming Fri, July 25, 2008 | 5:32:55 PM PDT This is so meta, I'm having trouble wrapping my brain around it. Today Bebo... more »