I respect your courage.

I think you are totally right and sensible. It seems that some kind of Catholics forget what their faith should be about.

People get too caught up in their loyalty to the church and the church becomes more important than their religion. I believe this was John Lennon's point when he said, "Imagine no religion". He wasn't simply saying that we should all dismiss the church and it's teachings, he was saying "calm down people and let's all just get along!"

Our loyalty should be to our Lord Jesus Christ first and foremost and not any denomination and/or church building. We are the body of Christ and as His body we should be walking in truth, honoring Him because in the end, what will matter is our faith and commitment to Him. To add to that, protecting our children is vital!! If this situation is not exposed and dealt with for what it is then the innocence of any child is put at stake. It needs to be corrected and just as Ann Rice states, "their church cleanse itself." How can men/women of God serve God yet put their loyalty in men who are going against the word of God and His principles committing heinous acts? How can any church expect to see God's glory like that? I repeat myself again when I say that I respect your courage Anne Rice.

Many conservative Catholics believe we should swallow everything the Church tells us to lock-stock-and-barrel and not to question anything. They still believe in the infallibility of the Church and it's clergy. I don't think that is right. As a matter of fact, it's downright dangerous. Pedophilia is a crime and I agree that we must hold anyone that commits that type of crime accountable, including members of the clergy responsible for such heinous acts. Our children are the future of the Church and if we don't look out for them, what then happens to the Church when people abandon it because they feel victimized by a Church that supposedly represents the welcoming arms of God? By taking a sweep-it-under the rug stance, the Church hurts itself. Is it any wonder the numbers of young men entering the priesthood has dropped significantly?

So long as the Church continues to consider itself above the law and hold on it's archaic ideas of not ordaining women, the flock will continue to scatter. Christ himself was a rebel and had plenty to say against the Pharisees. I can only imagine what He would say of the Catholic Church if He came back.

Good for you, Anne. As Catholics, we can't afford to close out eyes and look the other way. Our children deserve better and we must hold pedophiles accountable.