Children and the Sins of the Church

Re “Orange Diocese Gives Details on Sex Abuse,” May 18: Though I am pleased for the courageous survivors that a settlement was reached with the Diocese of Orange, I am so sorry there weren’t trials.

The survivors, these courageous martyrs, now remain “alleged.” The bishops and priests, who actively covered up the abuse, neglected to report the crimes to authorities and protected the sexual predators, have not had to swear before a jury of their peers to tell the truth and admit their crimes.

Because the church protected them, the priest predators are not convicted criminals. They are not registered sex offenders. They live freely. And children are in danger.

Is there really no way to indict retired Bishop Norman F. McFarland and Auxiliary Bishop Michael P. Driscoll, now bishop of Boise? If not, there is truly something wrong with our criminal justice system.

Mary Pitcher

Long Beach

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I can hardly contain my disgust over the article about the cover-ups of the sexual molestations by the Orange Diocese.

Seems to me the priesthood is nothing but a power structure run by the “good old boys.” They no more represent a loving God than the average man on the street. Instead of being horrified, they covered it all up.

Where are the district attorneys? Accessory after the fact, aiding and abetting these crimes is what diocesan officials should be charged with. Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, among others, is beneath contempt for worrying more about image than the innocence of children.

Shirley Braverman

Las Vegas

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The May 18 front-page article left me in shock but not surprised by the Catholic Church’s obvious cover-up of crimes committed by their serial-molester priests. The victims were ostracized and the pedophile priests were promoted!

I now anticipate that the new pope, Benedict XVI, will soon issue a response that the L.A. Times has exaggerated its findings despite evidence of the decades-long sex abuse scandal within its ranks. You have to be blind not to see that this church is guilty of obstruction of justice and its leaders should be prosecuted for high crimes.

It has been said that crimes against children constitute “perfect crimes.” The Catholic Church certainly validates that statement.

Edna M. Tobias

Hermosa Beach