03/11/09 READER SUBMITTED COMMENTS; Catholic Church

A Letter To The Editor.

I want to express my outrage over this pending legislative bill regarding state control over the Catholic Church. Luckily, there are some Catholics on our judiciary committee, who feel the same way. Thankfully, it's on hold for now.

I don't belong to St. Catherine's in Greenwich, St. Mary's in Greenwich, or St. John's in Darien. But I have had my fill of dishonest and twisted information from some parishioners, their friends,as well as our local newspapers.

Tom Gallagher and members of VOTF have precipitated a frenzy of unnecessary paranoia. The mismanagement of parish funds in both Darien and in Greenwich are examples of priests abusing their financial responsibilities, and stealing. THAT IS WRONG. However, in both cases, regular people wearing regular clothes WERE AWARE and ACTIVELY COVERING UP the crime. In Greenwich, parishioners quickly gathered up all, but $400,000, to replace what was "mishandled." In fact, the parishioners were happy to do so. They liked Mike Moynihan and tossed thousands his way quite often.

In Darien, the local press sensationalized the St John's story. Joseph Pisani ,who was the dumb ass editor at the time,missed the boat. While he concentrated on the sinful ACTS of homosexual priests, he missed the pertinent facts. I don't condone the actions of homosexual priests. I'd rather not know. I don't care about ANYONE'S SEX LIFE because it has nothing to do with me. As for a dishonest priest who steals money, I want them in jail. But what failed to surface in Joe's lame reporting was that the church bookkeeper and 2 members of the board of finance knew about the missing money. They had been looking the other way for YEARS (and, no, they were not gay).

Now this legislative maneuver will ruin the traditions of the church. It will mock what has been sacred for generations. That is not what any member of any church wants to see happen to THEIR place of worship. It will not keep thieves from stealing.

I suggest these men who pushed for this recent legislative discussion, take a look around first. Maybe listen to the right people. Most of all, stop talking for the entire Catholic Church. You represent yourselves, who are few. You are an embarrassment to the rest of us....

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