Spiritual Separation

Re “Rising Above a Scandal” (Oct. 3), on the priestly misconduct at St. Edward Church in Dana Point: One of the parishioners said, “I don’t come here for a priest. I come here for God.” Another parishioner implies that with all the misdeeds, the spirituality is still there. Really? Most parishioners interact with a priest when they come to church for Mass or confession. The church teaches that the priest celebrates the sacraments of Mass and penance for the flock “in persona Christi” and is the face of Christ for the parishioners. When the “face of Christ” is arrested for child molestation, what spirituality is left for the parishioner?

Eric Forster

West Los Angeles