A black fast?

by Letters Editor · April 12, 2010

From Tony Meehan, Cape Town:

Jesus once whipped wrongdoers from the temple; so should our Holy Father do the same regarding sexual abuse in the Church?

The pope must be the statesman and leader in such a campaign. By omissions and lack of oversight, the Catholic Church has aided criminals and it must take responsibility.

I suggest that for one month the hierarchy, from the pope down, should enter into a black fast, abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Every church in the world should observe a second Lent. The Church must be seen to be contrite. We need to plead for forgiveness and to pray for the victims and the perpetrators of the wickedness; and the complacency of the Church.

Please, God, may Nineveh yet be saved!