The Other Side of the Sex Abuse Story

In the Aug. 15, 2003 issue of Commonweal, attorney Patrick J. Schiltz writes that the mainstream media distorted many aspects of the sex abuse crisis and this left much of the public misinformed. He makes some valid points. The media hasn't done a good job of pointing out that very few new cases of abuse have been reported. Most of the reporting has been about older cases, because many have just recently come to light.

He also says that the mainstream media has neglected to clearly point out that "a large and growing percentage of the litigation against churches is not covered by insurance." So a diocese basically has two choices: Reduce services or ask the people in the pews to give more.

Schiltz also explains that in the '60s, '70s and '80s many bishops were advised that abusive priests could return to ministry after psychotherapy. They were wrong. Schiltz wonders why no one is holding those psychologists accountable.

The complete article titled: "Not All The News is Fit To Print" is not available on Commonweal's Web site, but it can be back ordered.