Sunday, 2nd May 2010 by Peter Dingli, Templestowe, Victoria, Australia
Many in the Catholic Church feel they are being attacked unfairly over sexual abuse of children, perpetrated by some of its members. They complain that the media do not point out crimes committed by teachers, childcare workers, and others.
I believe that the media direct their reports at the Catholic Church because many of its members have committed these acts over many years and attempted to sideline the law. But this is not the only reason. The Church, which claims to be inspired by God, whose help the faithful are encouraged to seek, should be the very organisation that knows the insidious nature of their betrayal.
The Church and some of its adherents now have the temerity to call this media focus a witch-hunt. The question is, would these crimes have stopped if the media did not focus their attention on them? I think not. The culture of hiding the molestation of children would have gone unreported.
Some have suggested the Church is being targeted because it will not compromise on issues like abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, and stem cell research. I disagree with this view because it reads like another victim response statement.
[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]
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