Spokane cover-up

The disclosure of the continuing horrors in the Spokane diocese shows that the hierarchy is still attempting to cover up ("Compensating for the sins of the fathers," NCR, Nov. 10). The difference is that now bishops do so openly. They attempt to hide under the protection of their canon law when they have violated the civil and criminal laws of our society. Add to that their total insensitivity and that of their lawyers toward victims and you have a view of an institution that has nothing to do with Jesus. It does not deserve to be called Christian. The first attention of bishops is to the "bottom-line" money just as it is with secular corporations. Jesuit Fr. Tom Reese is right in his observation that the bishops are not sacrificing free lodgings and meals. That's shorthand for their pretenses at royalty that start with the pope and the Vatican. Of course, Fr. Reese was canned by Benedict right after his election. It makes one recognize the reason the Vatican manipulated concordats to call itself a state. It's all about worldly power, not about continuing Jesus' message. Randy Costan expresses the clearest and most honest observation, "We've all lost sight," sight of the Jesus who is proclaimed Lord and the words that were chosen to be called Gospel.

GILBERT CANTLIN

Berea, Ohio

Regarding "Compensating for the sins of the fathers," William Sloan Coffin once said, "One of the attributes of power is that it gives those who have it the ability to define reality and the power to make others believe their definition."

The current leader of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, William Skylstad, is neither incompetent nor inept. He followed his lawyers' advice over the years with eyes wide open. But in recent years the ability that Mr. Coffin talked about has lost its power to compel belief. When Molly Harding, director of the Spokane chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, first approached "Skylstad in 2001, telling him of her desire to form a Spokane SNAP group, he responded, 'Oh Molly, please, we don't have that problem here,'" when he was very much aware there was a terrible problem. This from the bishop who fought so hard to keep any records from becoming public and whose diocese declared bankruptcy rather than settle with victims of sexual abuse by priests under his authority. And Bishop Skylstad himself avoided going to trial for violating the law on mandatory reporting by entering the diocese into bankruptcy proceedings. For there to be any actual change in the bishops' behavior, some of them actually will have to start going to jail. Bishop William Skylstad should be a candidate to lead that procession.

CATHERINE MARY HENRY

Havertown, Pa.

Tom Roberts' column that accompanies the article about the Spokane diocese gets to the heart of the damage caused by the sexual abuse crisis and cover-up--the breach of trust between and among God's people. Denial, as in other dysfunctional closed systems, exacerbates the damage and delays justice for victims and victimizers. Solidarity (www.solidarityrebuildtrust.com) proposes a nonadversarial way to justly compensate victims of sexual abuse and rebuild trust within the Catholic community. Telling the truth and hearing it with compassion is the disciples' work, and right action can only flow from compassion. Each instance of abuse or cover-up is like a land mine, damaging great numbers of us. Might not the wise solution be to adopt strategies that" heal in like manner, exponentially, by dealing compassionately and with honor? Speaking truth and doing justice with humility will create the possibility of forgiveness and reconciliation. Accepting anything less does not serve God.

SUSAN PAVLAK

St. Paul, Minn.

[Susan Pavlak is the founder of Solidarity.]

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