Don’t judge the entire organisation based on the actions of a few

Jul 12, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,

It pays one better to ignore people like Stella Ramsaroop especially after reading her ‘hate’ essay about the Roman Catholic Church, and Christianity in general, but I just have to set her straight in an essay of my own.

The article, published July 7, 2010, captioned “Power, Priests, Pedophilia and Corruption”, lambasted the Church (and by ‘Church’ I am referring to the Roman Catholic Church) and its pastors for abusing, raping, sodomizing and taking advantage of children, particularly boys.

But no matter what you say, you cannot make people like Stella Ramsaroop understand or think rationally about this issue. Like so many others out there whose daily lives revolve around attacking the Church through the media, internet and other means, ignorance and tolerance would pay us all better.

My views here are not to say that I am in agreement with the sexual abuse of boys in years past — even the present — the Church has time and time again addressed the issue openly. The spiritual head of the Church, Pope Benedict XVI and his other predecessors have all spoken out against the horrible stories that emanate from parishes all across the world.

Victims have come forward for the first time to speak to the media, much to the media’s joy, since they love nothing more to expose Rome and her ‘deep, dark secrets’. Pope Benedict has personally met and prayed with abused victims; he has asked their forgiveness on behalf of the Church. These wounds don’t heal overnight. But, as I said, I might as well end this letter right now, because nothing I or any person from the Catholic Church could say to put Stella Ramsaroop and other naysayers of the Church at ease.

I bet Stella knows full well that other churches within Christendom have numerous unreported cases of sex abuse scandals every single day, but she chose not to mention these in her tirade.

There would always be bad among the good. Do not judge people, Stella, you do not know what struggles priests go through. What happens in their minds, you and I do not know. We do not know the battles and daily struggles they go through after the congregation leaves after Sunday Masses, and all they have are the four walls that stare at them in their homes. Many lay people and Catholics themselves have helped to make a few priests go bad and sink down the abysses only to commit these terrible acts. That does not give priests the right to hurt children. I too am angered and disturbed by their ungodly actions. But judge not, Stella.

Perhaps my faith would not be shaken as Stella’s, who clearly has no belief anymore in God. Her column last Wednesday was full of anger, resentment and hatred for the Church. But it always shocks me how people can turn a blind eye to all the good the Roman Catholic Church has been doing for 2,000 years and still continues to do today for mankind all over the world; the hospitals, schools, charitable organisations, universities, shelters, and very holy men and women within the Catholic Church — nuns and priests, sisters and brothers who have been living out their priestly and religious vocations to the best of their abilities given the circumstances, etc, but never fail to see and point out the wrong-doings by a few, and bring up matters and issues like the sex abuse scandals even though this issue has been engaging the full attention of Rome. Don’t judge the entire organisation based on the actions of a few, Stella.

I am Catholic, a proud one; I would defend the Church even on my dying bed. I would pass blame on her, too, for the right reason. I was called to the Catholic Church in 2005 for this reason, I believe. If persons out there are going to talk about issues like the sex abuse scandals, then so be it; it’s a free country, freedom of speech as they say. But talk about them within the right context and rationally. They should not take spite on the Church because of personal vendettas which they have. I generally have enjoyed reading Ramsaroop’s columns over the years, but this time she has gone overboard. A little bitter are we, Stella?

Leon Jameson Suseran