Appalled at Sending Alleged Sex Abusers to Trinity Retreat

By Eleanor Sherman
Letter to the Editor
Larchmont Gazette
August 31, 2006

http://www.larchmontgazette.com/commentary/letters/index.html#sherman31

[Note from BishopAccountability.org: The writer is reacting to the article: A Choice for New York Priests in Abuse Cases, by Andy Newman, New York Times (8/31/06). See also Two Accused Priests Enter Trinity House Retreat, by Judy Silberstein, Larchmont Gazette (8/31/06). ]

I am appalled by read that The Trinity Retreat House in Larchmont is where the New York Archdiocese is sending aging priests who have faced sexual abuse allegations that were deemed credible.

I believe the archdiocese has an obligation to assure our community that these priests cannot roam freely amongst our Larchmont children. No notification has to be issued to our community because of legal technicalities.

We should know more specifics on these individuals before I believe there is no danger to our community. What is old? How old do you have to be before you lose your desire to molest children? Why has it taken the archdiocese decades to evaluate these people? If that is the case, I don't trust their decision making. I don't believe that "age" is a factor when prosecuting pedophiles in the legal system.

Instead of living in a Larchmont Mansion, I believe a "House of Penitentiary" would have been more suitable, where they can live amongst other child abuse violators and criminals.

Eleanor Sherman
Larchmont , NY