BishopAccountability.org
	Church Lawsuits Caused Closings Press January 4, 2008 http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/opinion/letters/story/7525941p-7427170c.html [Letter to the Editor] Let's face it, the obvious reason the Diocese of Camden is closing/merging so many of our schools is because of the "white elephant" in the middle of the room that no one is talking about - the money paid out in sexual-abuse lawsuit settlements, money that was donated by parishioners who assumed it would be used for admirable, charitable donations, such as subsidizing local Catholic schools. The money is no longer there. Andrew Walton, director of communications for the Camden Diocese, says it is courageous to make these difficult decisions to close/merge schools. The courage, however, is not on the part of the Diocese, but on the part of the dedicated parents and school faculty who put their blood, sweat and tears into making our school, Blessed Sacrament, the best it can be. But the Diocese seems to have a calculated plan to get out of the business of educating students. The timing of this right before Christmas, when all the school parents were overwhelmed with planning for their holy day, was apparent. Because of a handful of bad priests and the bishops who covered up their crimes, many fine priests, bishops and parishioners are left to clean up their mess. This has trickled down to the closing of our Catholic elementary schools. Once again, the youth of our church are the victims. Tricia Walsh Rafter Longport
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