Diocese of Orange Still Must Clean Its House

Re Dana Parsons’ column, “Diocesan Files Show Deceit, Denial,” May 20: Bishop Tod Brown has led the Diocese of Orange to the halfway mark to reconciliation and healing for sex-abuse victims, their families and Orange County Catholics.

The last half of Brown’s journey may be the toughest. The truth is now out and the sex-abuse cases have been settled.

The final chapter is the demanding of accountability from diocesan legal advisors and employees who aided in the cover-ups and obstructions of justice, and who are still employed by the diocese, while escaping criminal charges. Until this occurs, Brown’s “covenant with the faithful” is meaningless.

Until Brown cleans his house, children will not be safe from dangers, sex-abuse victims cannot heal and struggling Catholics will remain just that, struggling.

We can only pray that Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, bishops, diocesan officials and elected government leaders throughout California and the U.S. are learning from the painful history of the Diocese of Orange.

Without California’s 2003 sex-abuse law, none of these events would have occurred. It is time for other government leaders to lead their states in legislation lifting the statutes of limitations for civil lawsuits nationwide.

Debby

Bartholomew-Bodkin

Aliso Viejo

If societies are judged by the amount of compassion they show their most vulnerable citizens, the bishop of Boise would immediately be made cardinal of San Quentin -- for life.

Bart Braverman

Los Angeles