Sins & Silence
Letters to the Editor
TH series might help heal wounds

By Evelyn H. Vondran
Telegraph Herald [Dubuque IA]
March 23, 2006

http://www.snap-greatplains.org/dubuque/My_Homepage_Files/Page4.html

[See the main page of the Sins & Silence series for links to all the articles and letters to the editor.]

The TH is to be commended for its forthright treatment of the clergy abuse scandal. The cover-up in itself was scandalous, so the airing of it can help heal the wounds inflicted on so many trusting individuals.

I personally was surprised to learn that one of the abusers had been a very popular religion instructor at St. Joe's Academy when I was a student there many years ago. In retrospect, one can only commend his soul to God's loving mercy for his good influence in making religion an interesting topic to teenage girls.

Privilege carries its own responsibility, and we tend to expect a higher standard of conduct from those in elevated positions. So it seems to me that church officials have a tremendous responsibility when they use the pulpit to try to influence opinions in society.

I'm reminded of the all-out effort to abolish abortion, birth control, etc., yet at the same time they totally ignore the heinous crimes committed with a pre-emptive war in which our country is presently engaged—the first of its kind in the history of our freedom-loving country.

It seems to me that life in all forms should be respected and protected, not just the potential life of the unborn.

Evelyn H. Vondran
2844 Washington St.