Catholic church doing better, statistics show

As a Catholic, I feel the anger, embarrassment, disgust, frustration, shock and disappointment over the recent media attention given to the terrible scandal of sex abuse within the church. There is no, nor should there be, any attempt to soften the gravity of these offenses.

Let me be clear: There can be no tolerance of even one case of verified abuse.

To the bishops and others who swept these offenses under the rug: It is you who bring some of my greatest sadness. If you still exist in the church, you should resign or be removed, and you should be arrested to face the crimes in which you participated.

What I'd like to see the media do, however, is to present statistics to show the difference in the Catholic Church regarding this issue since 2002, when new safeguards and processes were implemented. If there's any rose on the horizon, it is that statistics do show improvement.

I don't believe the media have presented statistics regarding the severity of this problem in other churches and other circumstances where adults can perpetuate these horrible things. The Catholic Church has taken a hit. Some members have left the church. Some are voting with their wallets. Some priests have endured embarrassment and criticism they don't deserve.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with the world holding the Catholic Church to a higher standard. I just don't think it is our problem alone.

Dick Lensing

Marion