The citizenry of Rhode Island should be concerned
about recent revelations of discrepancy in the numbers of possible abusive clergy members in the Rhode Island Diocese, "In filing, diocese says 125 priests have been accused," (10/20/07).

There is a a chasm between the numbers "56" and "125."

Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of the Catholic Diocese of
Providence warmly welcomed the Catholic renewal group, Voice of the Faithful, on the opening of its annual convention in Providence this past Friday, by a full page letter of welcome which was printed in group's official program.

I was heartened on reading such a public expression of understanding by a sitting bishop when most bishops in the United States not only have forbidden Voice of the Faithful from meeting in their respective parishes or on church property, but also have made unsubstantiated charges against the group, accusing them of having agendas, being anti-Catholic, fostering dissent and the like.

Apparently, those bishops, unlike Tobin, have chosen to ignore Canon Law's very specific approval of the rights of such groups to exist in support of the church, the People of God.

However, if Bishop Tobin is to be taken at his word, as expressed in that letter of welcome to VOTF, he must surely realize the importance to his credibility of making available all the documents ordered by the Honorable Judge Netti C. Vogel, no matter how "unduly burdensome" it may turn out to be.

These are accusations of child molestation, rape and sodomy, not how many times the name of the Lord was taken in vain.

The Diocese of Providence has described the disparity in the numbers as “a difference in reporting criteria and methodology.” I have heard my share of double speak by lawyers in Delaware arguing against necessary changes in child abuse legislation but this, if accurate, is an appalling statement.

Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch should be concerned about previously unreported cases. Perhaps now is the right time to have a Philadelphia type Grand Jury Investigation.

If the bishops of our church are perceived as
backsliding on the promises and commitments they made in 2002 in Dallas, then the moral authority as well as the credibility of the institutional church will be further exacerbated.

Neither the bishops nor the church has that kind of wiggle room.

Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
Victims' Advocate

I testified before both the Delaware Senate and House Judiciary Committees in support of SB29, the Child Victims Act which was signed into law on July 10, 2007. This civil legislation provides for a two year window for bringing forward previously time barred charges of abuse.