Mahony Stands ‘Apart From Common Sense’

Re “Mahony Won’t Name Abusers,” March 26: Historically, the Roman Catholic Church has stood apart from, or perhaps more aptly, beyond civil law.

What seems to be occurring before our eyes is the church’s insistence on standing apart from common sense (I really want to say, decency) and the ethics that bind a civilized society. Church administrators decline to reveal the names of priests who have committed unspeakable crimes against children--crimes that, occurring in any other sector of our society, would instantly galvanize law enforcement agencies into prosecutorial ecstasy. Everyone--even hardened criminals--detests child molesters.

But Cardinal Roger Mahony will not release the names of accused priests because he wants to protect the victims from further pain. Imagine that argument on the lips of a school principal whose students have been molested by a teacher, on the lips of a physician who has taken advantage of a patient, and so on.

Roger, clean out the house. There are wolves among the flock.

David Lorenzana

Monrovia

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Cardinal Mahony is only perpetuating the secrecy that continues to shroud the abuse of our children by priests when he refuses to release the names of the abusers under the guise that he is “protecting” the victims.

Doesn’t he realize that part of the continuing trauma to these victims is the fact that the perpetrators have been so protected by the church? If someone commits rape, we keep the name of the victim secret, not the perpetrator. Apparently, Cardinal Mahony still thinks the priests are the “victims.”

Mary Ann Healy

Burbank

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I believe Cardinal Mahony’s position is backward. Releasing the names of priests who perpetrated sexual abuse of children would provide a measure of justice and help with the healing process of the victims. It would also protect children in the communities where these men now live and deter other priests so inclined.

For the victims to publicly identify themselves and violate confidentiality agreements is what would be traumatic. Is it possible they are being used again?

Bonnie Peterson

Tustin

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The pressure from insurance companies and of large financial judgments against the Catholic Church seem to, as much as anything else, be behind the new-found willingness of the church to openly deal with the issues raised by the current sex abuse scandal.

We would all be well advised to remember this the next time that a reduction in plaintiffs’ rights, or a limit on damages, is being debated.

Jon Spevack

Oakland

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One does not know whether to laugh or cry at James Pinkerton’s solution to the crisis in the Catholic Church (Commentary, March 26). Married priests? Not a chance. Women priests? God forbid! But let’s get on with the castrations--then we can have a bunch of eunuch pedophiles leading the flock. Ah, but let’s be tolerant of Pinkerton; after all, he is a conservative Republican.

Frank Ferrone

El Cajon