Kieran’s Irish Pub’s Letter of the Month

Father Thomas Buffer’s diary [“Father, Forgive Them,” May] comes off more as a bitter diatribe against the press and modernism than as any real answer as to what to do with priests who violate the trust of children. To imply that “homosexual priests have gotten sexually involved with boys under 18” due to societal acceptance of homosexuality and a modernist, liberal society is so spurious as to be laughable. Millions of people are exposed to these same cultural changes, yet they don’t become pedophiles or ephebophiles. The real issue here is that there are professions in our society that need to be as above reproach as is humanly possible. Teachers, physicians, social workers, psychologists, and the clergy—we put complete faith and trust in their hands. It is bad enough that someone in these professions would violate an adult’s trust. It is even more insidious when the trust of a child is violated, especially because children are obviously dependent on adults for nurturing and direction. It is my experience that the vast majority of priests, rabbis, and pastors are good and decent people who minister to their people with concern and kindness. However, it is articles like this that further reinforce the perception that the church hierarchy is not really concerned about addressing this most troubling of problems. Sanctimonious attacks on the press and the evils of a modern society do nothing to improve the situation.

Scott Cullen-Benson
Oakdale