Editorial

As Catholics we often breathe a sigh of relief when Easter arrives, because it means the end of our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

During Lent we commit ourselves to special behaviors such as giving up favorite foods, cutting back on television, and spending more time in prayer. We promise to share more time and money with those in need. We clear out more space so that God can enter into our lives more fully. We acknowledge our need for forgiveness and promise to change.

As Lent draws to a close, I find myself almost sorry to see it end. Living with less, praying more often, and helping others all seem to be things I should be doing all the time. They shouldn't end with Lent.

The more I thought about this, the more I began to see that Easter should not be a conclusion but a continuation of our Lenten practices. Sacrificing, praying, and sharing are the essence of our lives as Christians.

But we should do all these things with joy, with a smile on our faces. Jesus chastised those "hypocrites" who wore sack cloth and ashes, publicly announcing their penitential efforts. Jesus admonished his followers to wash their faces so that they would not be seen as fasting. Only God the Father should see and reward them (Matt. 6: 16-18).

During Holy Week and Easter, we remember the passion and death of Jesus and celebrate his resurrection and victory over sin and death. As his disciples, we can promise to follow his example by continuing our prayer, acts of penance, and almsgiving throughout the year.

Easter, then, is not an end but a beginning.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

To the editor:

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald P.O. Box 44985 Madison, WI 53744-4985 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Ms. Therese Borchard's cynical, at best, attitude about the recent news of pedophilia within the church puzzled me (The Catholic Herald, March 21 issue). First, she acted annoyed and disgusted at the response of other young mothers to the news of the priests around the country guilty of molesting children in their parishes.

If the same allegations were made at her child's school, and revealed that the school district had acted underhandedly and illegally by reassigning a pedophile teacher to another school where the opportunity to offend again was made convenient, would she be as supportive of the school district? How would she react if that same school district paid the family to keep quiet and avoid legal action against this person to save face?

The church that she calls "home" has to be accountable for the fact that over a billion dollars in settlements have been paid to families in secret settlements since the late 1980s within the U.S. Catholic Church. Catholics across this nation have been betrayed by priests, bishops, cardinals, and others within the church who participated in this cover-up.

Ms. Borchard believes that we expect too much of our spiritual leaders by expecting moral purity and flawless character. Our spiritual leaders take vows dedicating themselves to such things.

To answer Ms. Borchard's question of why the Catholic Church is at fault for the "personal disorders" of a "handful" of its ministers is because it did nothing. It did nothing to protect future victims, manipulated families into taking "hush money" for the good of the church, and ultimately betrayed the many wonderful priests who do serve our people in parishes across the country.

The church has a responsibility to answer to all of this before many Catholics will be able to trust in their church again.

Hopefully it is not too late for many Catholics.

Mary R. Budd, Prairie du Sac

Cover-up of crimes is disturbing

To the editor:

The pope, bishop, or The Herald still don't get it. It's the cover-up that greatly disturbs many of us.

Any crime or alleged crimes should be reported to the police for investigation. To do otherwise, in my opinion, would be tantamount to aiding and abetting a felony.

Until this is ordered, we will never feel comfortable entering a Catholic Church.

A number of years ago when it was discovered that the priests and monks at a boys' orphanage in Newfoundland had been molesting children for years, I would have thought appropriate measures would be taken so this terrible crime would never happen again. No, sweep it under the rug and it will go away.

It is indeed a sad day for us Catholics when the church feels it's more important to protect its image than to guard our children from the predator pedophiles.

Cardinals Law and Egan should step down.

W. E. O'Herrin, Madison