BishopAccountability.org
	Pope Must Sweep out Abusers, Enablers The Oregonian April 18, 2008 http://www.oregonlive.com/letters/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1208474738200710.xml&coll=7 Pope Benedict XVI just does not get it. Upon arrival for his first visit to the United States, he expressed his deep shame over the actions of pedophile priests ("Abuse scandal makes pope feel 'ashamed'," April 16). The shame he feels for pedophile priests is misplaced. What these rogue priests did is indeed shameful but the truth is that the past leadership of the Catholic Church was engaged in multiple class A felonies far beyond those of the priests. For decades, bishops, cardinals and popes built firewalls to protect these felonious pedophile priests and denied full disclosure to Catholics and the general public. These leaders moved dangerous priests from parish to parish just a step or two in front of the truth and the law. Since those firewalls were breached, the Catholic Church has paid $2 billion in damages to the victims, with further legal actions still pending. Pope Benedict XVI and other leaders of the Catholic Church should not use parish priests as shields to explain away their own immoral and criminal behavior. DEWEY R. HAMILTON Tigard The front-page headline, "Abuse scandal makes pope feel 'ashamed,' " was interesting for its implication. It is a good first step for Pope Benedict XVI to make any comment concerning this dismal and disturbing episode in Catholic Church history. What troubles me is the fact that two powerful cardinals who enabled or protected the rogue pedophile priests are still in positions of authority within the Catholic Church. After leaving the Archdiocese of Boston in disgrace, Cardinal Bernard Law was rewarded by the former pope, John Paul II, with a position of power and prestige in the Vatican. Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles has obstructed investigations by law enforcement of abusive priests under his control. Before healing and forgiveness can be complete, it is necessary for the church leadership to clean house at every level from abusers, enablers and those who shield them. GEORGE BENTON Newport The visiting pope's attempt to quiet a world of outrage regarding the atrocities created by a horde of pedophile priests by offering an apology for their actions just won't cut it. An expression of shame without action would be an insult to the intelligence and integrity of the law-abiding and God-fearing, moral citizens of our country. He should promise that every guilty priest will be brought to justice and dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. Additionally, they should be ostracized from the church and made an example as individuals exemplifying the worst of evil. As long as perverts are free to roam the Earth in search for another innocent child to ravage, there can be no "healing" conclusion referred to by the Portland archbishop.
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