Volume 25, Number 1    April 2003

Write On

Don't disparage good priests
(Re) your article on the percentage of priest abusers (ChurchWatch, Feb.-March), the thousands abused by priests over the past 50 years is horrendous beyond words. But why make it sound even worse than it is by playing this numbers and percentage game? By searching all available records over the past 50 years, the N.Y. Times found that 1.8% of priests had abused children and minors. But you don't even mention that figure. Instead you zero in Boston, Baltimore, and Manchester at 5.3%, 6.2%, 7.7%, respectively. That means that 94.7%, 93.8%, and 92.3% of the priests are not abusers. Of course, it would be great if the figure was 100% right across the board. But priests are human. Tragically, a very small percentage of them do some terrible things. Get rid of them; jail them; condemn them (maybe even help them?!), but don't allow their aberrant behavior to cast a shadow over the rest of us. The secular press can do that, but you shouldn't. I joined CTA expecting better. (Rev.) Thomas D'Albro, Wappingers Falls, N.Y.

Cone racism talk: demagoguery?
I read the plenary address of James Cone at the national conference. While I can readily find useful and thought-provoking statements in his address, for the most part I found it to be self-serving, combative, and antagonistic. How does his ranting and demagoguery help us to heal?
Henry H. Broer, Somers, Conn. (e-mail)

or welcome challenge?
I am a member of CTA and also an associate of the Dominican Sisters of Hope. I am on their peace and justice committee. We bought the video of James H. Cone as we are trying to raise consciousness about white racism. I found Professor Cone's talk very challenging.
Florence Kissane, Hampton Bays, N.Y. (e-mail)