As a lifelong Catholic, I am greatly disturbed by the inaction of the Catholic hierarchy in coming to grips with the urgency and enormity of the ongoing clergy abuse crisis. For the past two decades, we have witnessed repeated instances of sexual misconduct by members of the clergy that has either been ignored or covered up by the hierarchy of the church. Each week the enormity of this crisis is revealed to be worse.

As a layman, I have great confidence in my church for theological matters, but this crisis is not on a theological level. It involves sexual sins that not only are condemned by the Ten Commandments but are grave offenses against civil laws.

I ask myself: How could the Catholic hierarchy not have known all along that these offenses were going on? And why didn’t they try to correct it years ago?

A number of lay Catholic groups have stepped forward to investigate the church at the highest level and urge corrective action. I applaud their actions, as the hierarchy appears incapable of policing itself. I fear for the future of my church if something meaningful is not done soon.

John. J. Greenler

Peabody