Forgive those who have sinned

Re “What the priest didn’t say,” July 17

Carl Marziali seems shocked that Catholics in the pews were still attending Mass and contributing to parishes in light of the sex abuse scandal. Marziali has little understanding of L.A. Catholics. Yes, we go to Mass looking for comfort and consolation, but more important, we go to Mass to be strengthened in our faith and to live out the very difficult challenge of the Gospel: to forgive those who have sinned against us and the church.

The Catholic faith is not about passive acceptance of the sex abuse scandal; rather, it is about aggressive forgiveness of those who have sinned, prayer for those who have been abused and prayers of support for the hundreds of innocent, loving priests currently ministering in the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

DENISE WILCOX

Burbank

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The lesson to take away from the sexual abuse scandal is a return to discipline exemplified in the Latin Mass. When the Latin Mass was in practice, there were no sexual scandals. It has been said that the Latin Mass reflects “a church of visible discipline and hierarchical structure, the ancient discipline of the priesthood, the moral authority of bishops and the pope, a way of looking at the human relationship to God.”

We don’t need to dwell on the mistakes of the past, but we need to return to the better ways of the past.

WILLIAM S. HULSY

Santa Ana

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Marziali should not be surprised. Darfur, the war in Iraq, social justice, capital punishment, life in the suburbs -- these are all topics avoided by the priests who speak in the parish I attend. I think most priests would rather speak about ancient shepherds and old times, not contemporary problems and modern Christianity.

HANK WOODS

Santa Ana