Sir,

Rita White has always been a bit of a giggle for me.

Every Monday I buy the paper just to read what silly thing she's going to be prattling on about next. I see it as an article that one can read and be reminded that old and ignorant is much worse than young and inexperienced.

This week's comments in her column disgusted and shocked me. Normally I just brush the ill-conceived ranting as harmless but the comments on the children who have been abused by the clergy of the Catholic Church are not harmless, they are shameful.

How is it that a child approaches his/her parents and tells them that the person they would trust with the salvation of their soul and has sworn against ever touching a female body, is touching them in inappropriate ways? Not only that but it is well documented that people who abuse children often tell them lies such as "if you tell Mum/Dad you will be punished", or something of the sort. In the same article you exclaimed how it amazed you how children can be so trusting - why wouldn't they believe the lies given to them.

It is only now after years of having to deal with such a horrible secret, now when they are the adults and know that they can speak up about these incidences, that the atrocious truths are being told. Why would they be "jealous of his position and popularity?". These are just people who are looking for justice, not a high public profile or a position in the church.

I would hope that you are alone in this position, as in a world where innocence seems to be lost so early in life it should be taken by those that we believe we can trust. These people shouldn't be given a chance to rip a happy, healthy life from a person before they have even started to live it.

Not only that but they shouldn't be allowed to stand behind the smoke screen of church, as it is not just religious people who can commit such a terrible crime but being in a position of power doesn't make them any less accountable.

Amanda Smith

Mittagong