This bishop stands out as advocate for victims

This bishop stands outas advocate for victims
EDITOR:
The Jan. 12 Vindicator article about Bishop Gumbleton being the first bishop to admit being sexually molested by a priest when he was a teenager needs some elaboration. First of all, at age 75 he admits being embarrassed to speak of the event. This is true for most victims. Also most victims thought no one would believe them. Those who tried to tell were vilified, intimidated, sometimes paid money to keep quiet. But the reasons for telling the public he was molested -- the story behind the story - are of far greater importance.
Senate Bill 17, passed unanimously in the senate. March 2005, currently before the house, is for the protection of children. The Ohio Catholic bishops have fought vigorously to defeat the bill. Bishops throughout the country have been dead against passage of any legislation that would change the statute of limitations to allow past victims of sex abuse to sue. Bishop Gumbleton explained to the Ohio House of Representatives Judiciary Committee that he believes it is important to modify the statute of limitations so that victims as far back as 30 years ago could have their day in court. There are still priest perpetrators who have not been identified. They should be exposed and the only way is through the civil courts. These are the reasons for the "look-back" window. The current statute of limitations prohibits past victims from suing alleged perpetrators.
What makes Bishop Gumbleton's second reason so outstanding is that he broke rank with other bishops stating that the most effective way to make the bishops who protected priest-perpetrators as well as the guilty priests accountable is through civil legislation. It would also prevent bishops from acting in the same irresponsible manner in the future.
The bishop's third reason for favoring passage of Senate Bill 17 is that this honest exposure would give the "institutional" church a better chance at restoring credibility as a moral leader. What a twist of faith that is. The lies, the cover ups, the bidding and shuffling of clergy place to place was done supposedly "to avoid scandal" or "save the reputation of the church." Finally, here is one bishop I think has it right, and I congratulate him.
JOHN F. WIRTZ
North Jackson
America is changing
EDITOR:
America, once a haven for victims of religious persecution, now produces them. Imam Fawaz Damra, the imprisoned spiritual leader of Ohio's largest mosque who was abruptly spirited away from his family and congregation the day after Thanksgiving, is a case in point of a nation in crisis.
At the heart of Imam Damra's demonization and persecution lies an inversion of American values. Instead of being welcomed to America with open arms, as has been the case for centuries, victims of selective religious persecution are now being forced out with clenched fists and closed minds. We have become what former generations of Americans despised.
The pound of flesh extracted by those who tormented this man of God and his family for years does not come without its price. His forced removal from our community leaves a hole in the soul of our nation. That is an American tragedy, one which a future generation of enlightened Americans will hopefully overcome when celebrating Eid-al Adha is as widely accepted as St. Patrick's Day. When that happy day comes, long after we have all been deported to our respective eternal homes, we will truly be one nation under God instead of under a terror alert still haunted by the ghost of McCarthyism and other revived witch hunts.
The Rev. Werner Lange
Newton Falls
Profits and losses
EDITOR:
For years, General Motors made big profits. Then it decided to close plants in the United States and make a bigger profit by opening plants in Mexico.
Now you have people manufacturing the automobiles who can't afford to buy them. So they send the automobiles back to the United States and expect the people who lost their jobs to buy them.
GM has eaten the goose that laid the golden eggs.
JIM CAPUTO
Youngstown