Credit O'Malley

I WANT to congratulate Cardinal Sean O'Malley for the hard work of setting up a meeting between the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI and five victims who were sexually abused by priests in the Boston area. This is one step to get this tragedy behind us. No more covering up for others, no more denying. Now let's become the religion that sets an example to the whole universe.

WILLIAM J. BOND
Haverhill

IN SOME small way I was relieved that the pope did not visit Boston on his trip to the US.

In a way it guaranteed that the pontiff be spared any anger or reprisal from Catholics at the forefront of the abuse scandal.

It let sleeping dogs lie, as I suspect was always the church's way of dealing with their problems. It allowed Cardinal O'Malley to maintain the small amount of dignity that has grown since his arrival. It allowed the message of healing and forgiveness, the call of faith in uncertain times, be the cornerstone of what it means to be a Catholic.

This pope chose the high road of leadership, not of cowardice.

RICHIE ZEMEITUS
Milton

POPE BENEDICT XVI, before his plane had even landed at Andrews Air Force Base, told journalists who were traveling with him that "he was ashamed." He wanted America to know that he would not duck the sexual abuse issues that have rocked the church in this country.

And what caused the Holy Father's shame? Was it the monstrous behavior of the priests whose fall from grace left damaged children and their families devastated? Was it the inexcusable shrinking of responsibility on the part of those superiors who looked the other way? Or could it be the terrible, embarrassing publicity that put the Catholic Church on the front page of newspapers here and around the world?

As the pontiff descended from his plane to exchange warm greetings with President and Mrs. Bush before proceeding to the White House, news came of a Supreme Court decision on the manner in which this government executes its prisoners. The Roman Catholic Church condemns all use of the death penalty. Can we expect Pope Benedict to speak as forthrightly on this matter as he does on abortion, a topic more acceptable to his US hosts than execution?

Growing up Catholic, I was taught how to go to confession. I learned to say I was sorry.

Being ashamed is something else altogether.

ANN K. MADIGAN
Milton

AS ONE who continues to experience deep pain and loss at the betrayal by my church, I was so encouraged to experience the pope's leadership. His public expression of shame had the tone of a perfect act of contrition.

Years of public penance by the hierarchy of the church who moved those priests from parish to parish, only to have more children harmed, is clearly in order. Bishops across this country, in humble penitence, sharing their mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa would go a long way to further the healing, both for each of them personally and for the thousands of broken-hearted Catholics. Pope Benedict XVI, in his humility, penitence, and compassion, set an inspiring example.

JOAN LOUDEN-BLACK
Mattapoisett

POPE BENEDICT XVI's visit resulted in the gathering of hundreds of thousands if not millions of spectators - how glorious it is to be Catholic, how people shouldn't practice artificial birth control but most do anyway, how there should never be any abortions but most people believe in that right with various restrictions, and what a horrible shame the priest sex abuse scandal was, which was effectively covered up for years. TV news soaked up those ratings as the anchors gushed over his presence and the souvenir hucksters also cleaned up. That's about it.

His visit will not end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, result in the capture of Osama bin Laden, improve the job and housing markets, or bring down the price of gasoline.

STEVE PHILLIPS
Shirley