Vatican must take global approach to sexual abuse

Vatican must take global approach to sexual abuse
EDITOR:
It has taken far too long and is too limited in scope, but the Vatican's call for a summit on sexual abuse by clergy in the United States is welcome nonetheless. It sends a reassuring message that the growing crisis in the United States will receive not only the urgent attention it demands, but also will set the framework for uniform -- and, it is hoped firm -- policies to prevent future cases of abuse within the Roman Catholic Church.
If the Vatican wants to play a role in countering the scandal, as it should, then it must be a global one. And it must also apply to the way the church handles cases of clergy misconduct, not just the priests themselves. The U.S. scandal is not defined just by a relatively small number of priests directly involved, but in fact extends to the church itself through its policies of secrecy, cash settlements for victims, who are then bound by confidentiality orders, and reassignment of priests even after their superiors were aware of their past and the danger that they posed to children who might come under their charge.
That's unacceptable, and the Vatican should say so. Rome must insist on a policy of zero tolerance for clergy abuse, and a requirement that bishops everywhere turn over the names of accused priests to civil prosecutors. Pope John Paul II has devoted much of his energy to reaching out to other faiths and seeking their forgiveness for wrongs done to them by his church. Now he must reach out to those within his own flock who are hurting and who need healing.
VINCENT J. DORIA
Boardman
Simple arithmetic can address lack of integrity
EDITOR:
A disenchanted Paul Volcker, former Federal Reserve chairman, deplores the lack of integrity in the accounting industry and its immunity from efficacious reform as reported by John Hall (Vindicator, June 10). Volcker supports governmental development of standards of ethics for accountant/advisers followed by vigorous enforcement thereof. He believes that they hold the keys to reforming an unhealthy ethical climate which has been allowed to prevail in the world of finance, culminating with, as one would expect, Enron/Andersen.
One senses that this distinguished economist feels that the present looseness of principle now in corporate America abounds in a different atmosphere from that in which he worked in his long and honorable career, that the moral climate has deteriorated.
It is humbly submitted, however, that instruction in ethical precepts, or their enforcement by governmental discipline, doesn't guarantee perfect observance by those in business, in the professions or even in life.
Rather, let us look for more practical help in the great truths of great literature. In the belief that basic arithmetic is easier to teach than ethics, we quote the advice given by Mr. Micawber, while in debtor's prison, to David Copperfield:
"If a man had twenty pounds a year for his income, and spent nineteen pounds nineteen shillings and six pence, he would be happy, but if he spent twenty pounds one he would be miserable."
Let the warning quoted be displayed over the portal of every corporation, financial institution and accountancy firm as a reminder to all who enter.
The remedy for the sorrowful state of the likes of the Enrons and the Andersens lies not in adding sieve-like rules which the self-anointed ones can adroitly avoid. Nor will the preachings of the ethicists be of much avail. As the numbers that the firm is responsible for get larger the harder it becomes to keep track of them, and the application of Micawber's economics becomes submerged in a welter of slovenly jargon and obfuscation. But if this simple truth is heeded, the temptation, yes, even the need, to sleazily slide into substandard behavior may be lessened, although probably not completely eliminated in all places and at all times. Worth the try?
NORMAN A. RHEUBAN
Canfield
Cisco story missed point of student volunteerism
EDITOR:
I was warned this would happen, but I did not listen. What should have been a human interest story highlighting the volunteer efforts of local college students was turned into another story of bad news for the Valley. When the Computer Science and Information Systems Cisco Academy students at YSU began a computer network wiring installation project for the Mahoning County Board of Mental Retardation, I thought it would make a great story about students volunteering their time to help the community.
The students spent time from their summer break to perform the installation without pay. This project had no bearing on their class grade, and, in fact, one of the participating students had already graduated in May.
But instead of recognizing the work of Christina Pedas, Nick Bodak, Cheryl Mohl, Cheryl Verdream, Juliet DiTiberiis, Doug Retter and other YSU students, Ron Cole of The Vindicator decided the bigger story (Sunday, June 9) was the precipitous decline in a noncredit continuing education program that had nothing whatsoever to do with these YSU credit students.
The fact that the students spent the past three weeks installing over 2 miles of network cabling and making hundreds of connections was judged to be of secondary significance.
The real injustice was the quote attributed to student Christina Pedas at the very end of the article. The pessimistic tone of the story and the verb tense of Ms. Pedas' statement gave the impression that she "had really high hopes" but that those hopes are now dashed.
I was there when she talked with Mr. Cole. She was then and is still excited, determined, and has high hopes for a number of very positive reasons that she shared with Mr. Cole. Her endless enthusiasm, and that of her fellow students, drove this successful project. But neither the remainder of her comments nor her ebullient spirit was included in the story.
My pride in the work of these students is unbounded. Watching them actively solve problems with imaginative solutions while maintaining industry standards confirmed my belief in their successful professional future. The congratulatory comments from the MRDD board and administration about the high level of professionalism exhibited by the students continue to be gratifying.
ROBERT E. MEYERS, CCNA,CCAI
Youngstown
X The writer is the manager of the Cisco Regional Academy at Youngstown State University.
Don't like Saddam? Enlist
EDITOR:
I have recently seen and heard a great deal of discussion about Iraq. How we should take out Saddam Hussein because he is a threat to the world.
I don't profess to know if we should or shouldn't, but, if you think we should, then there is a way to show your feelings: Get down to the Army or Marine enlistment office. If you can't, then get your son/grandson/nephew down there. I think they are looking for people up to 34 years of age. And don't let college or reserve or National Guard duty stand in your way. I'm sure something can be worked out.
Oh, and while you're there, ask about the infantry.
KEN SMITH
Salem