Letters

Can the Catholic Church Save Itself?

Can the Catholic Church save itself? No. Only God can save it [RELIGION, April 1]. For 2,000 years, God has been rescuing the Roman Catholic Church from the excesses of the human condition, be it the imperialism of Constantine, pillaging during the Crusades, murder in the Inquisition, the selling of indulgences, sexual debauchery by priests and Popes, or institutional cover-ups. The church is and always has been a reflection of people, warts and all. Let's not defame the good name of the vast majority of its priests and, by inference, the collective body because of the decadence of the few. RUSSELL C. SMEDS Collinsville, Ill.

Not one of the church leaders quoted in your article spoke of the real outrage: the continued cover-up by church authorities to protect their own misguided interests. One wonders how a prelate could sleep at night, never mind continue to administer the sacraments, after transferring a child molester to a whole new group of unsuspecting children. A mea culpa from these leaders is long overdue--as is God's vengeance. BOB METHELIS Montville, N.J.

Although I am not a Catholic, I'm convinced that the church can "save itself." It has survived worse. Now is the time to support our good Catholic neighbors and tell them we love them. JACK WILLIAMS Fallbrook, Calif.

There was little in your report that addressed the fact that most priests serve with integrity. You quoted clinical psychologist Thomas Plante as saying "about 5% of the Catholic clergy have had involvement with minors." If this is true, then why don't the other 95% deserve more than a fleeting mention? The majority of Catholic priests are innocent and have done nothing wrong. JOHN CIESLA Fort Lewis, Wash.

Pedophilia is about power and control. The damage to a child from sexual abuse is forever; some victims never heal. CYNTHIA STINE Garland, Texas

As members of the order of the servants of Mary, we appreciate your concern. But save your tears. The Catholic Church will survive. We have the word of our founder, Jesus Christ: "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Although evil personified is trying, it will not succeed. AUDREY JAURON CELESTE LAWLER Omaha, Neb.

Can we save the Church? who cares? The question is, Can we save the children? Let's be clear. This is not "sex abuse"; it is child abuse, plain and simple. And crimes against children are the worst kind. The victims are defenseless and never deserve it. Never. GORDON GUNDERSON Port Orchard, Wash.

I am deeply saddened by the reports of child abuse by Catholic priests, but my faith has not been shaken. My faith is not based on the idea that every priest is perfect. My faith is in God and in a church that does far more good than evil. And my faith remains strong. I continue to pray for the victims of the abuse, for the abusers and for the church as a whole. EMILY ENGEL Gainesville, Fla.

The Issue of Celibacy

Why do people insist on making an absurd connection between celibacy and pedophilia [RELIGION, April 1]? These priests do not harm children because priests cannot marry but because they are deviants. If they had just wanted to find sexual pleasure, they could have found willing adult female partners. These men preyed on children, the most naive of their community. Jesus said it would be better to be drowned in the sea than to lead a child into sin. Let these men drown in the sea of prison. TONY LEE LYNN Ida, Mich.

Bingeing like the Boys

It was frustrating to read your report "Women on a Binge," about drinking by young women [SOCIETY, April 1]. An elementary definition of feminism is the striving for equality for every person, regardless of race, sexuality or gender. Feminism is not about women wanting to be men, nor is it about women trying to do the same things as men. Using feminism as an excuse for binge drinking degrades the entire notion of feminism. GINA OCCHIPINTI Santa Cruz, Calif.

In the article on young women and drinking, I was disappointed in your misrepresentation of Syracuse University's targeted and well-researched substance-abuse prevention and education program. Your reporter indicated that our advice to women is that they "eat a hearty meal" if they are going out drinking. But what was observed at Syracuse University was the first in a series of complex programs on female empowerment, women's self-concept and women's relationships with one another as a basis for prevention of alcohol and drug abuse. Syracuse University is at the forefront of scientifically based approaches to this nationwide issue. It is important for you to emphasize our commitment to this problem, because the media play a significant role in public health education. DESSA BERGEN-CICO Associate Dean of Students Syracuse University Syracuse, N.Y.

More Questions than Answers

Let's see, in his talk with TIME [INTERVIEW, April 1], writer Stephen King said he is not retiring from writing, only publishing. No, wait, not from publishing: he'll still publish if he writes something he deems worth publishing. King just won't be publishing "on a yearly basis." Will he continue to write on a regular basis but just choose not to publish? Unless he writes something worth publishing--then, of course, he will publish? You willful press people, can't you understand anything? RANDY EVANS Atlanta

Meeting the Enemy

Michael Ware's report "Encountering The Taliban" [WORLD, April 1] showed that he knew the location of a compound where Taliban fighters were staying but failed to notify the proper authorities. I am not happy with what TIME did. You gave a higher priority to getting an exclusive story than to seeing that the enemy was dealt with. Normally I am proud of TIME, but this was a disappointment. MATT DECKER Portage, Mich.

Less Is More?

The reason that Seinfeld cast members Michael Richards, Jason Alexander and now Julia Louis-Dreyfus have all failed with their own sitcoms is simple [PEOPLE, April 1]: their solo shows are nothing about something. They should have learned the cardinal rule from Jerry: something about nothing sells. Had they paid attention, they couldn't have failed to succeed! COLIN SIMON Toronto