Letters to the Editor

Steps to prevent clerical sex abuse

It seems that the Philadelphia Archdiocese and its review board have put a lot of effort into determining whether charges of clerical sex abuse are "credible," what exactly constitutes a "sexual crime," and whether accused priests should be returned to ministry ("Head of Philly priest sex-abuse review panel criticizes her church leaders," Saturday).

Does anyone care to get to the root of the problem? Instead of reacting to priests' committing sexual crimes against children, perhaps someone - even a "review board" - should try to learn why there are so many pedophile priests in the first place. Perhaps the priesthood attracts pedophiles because of the access to children it provides, along with the ease of committing sexual crimes without consequences, to say nothing of the church's apparent assumption that U.S. law does not always apply to priests. If any of this is so, the church should try harder to prevent these criminals from entering the priesthood.

In other words, stop reacting to the problem and be proactive to end this disaster once and for all.

Michele Dailey Baccare

Haddonfield

To save the schools is to save the future

George Anastasia's article, "Nearly 200 rally against Phila. School budget cuts" (Monday), was inspiring.

The Philadelphia public school system is all that I have for my two children at this time. It's sad that our government at both the state and local levels seems uninterested in our children's future. These budget cuts will put our children at a significant disadvantage; advanced programs, full-day kindergarten, arts, and music programs are all on the chopping block.

We need to keep fighting for the Philadelphia public schools, and standing up for what's right for our children, not just mine, but all the city's children, because they are our future leaders.

Karen Traylor

Philadelphia

waktraylor1@gmail.com

Education should not be made a luxury

As a senior at a Philadelphia public high school, I agree completely with Monday's editorial "Bad budget for education." Our schools are already struggling to make ends meet, and these budget cuts will only make things worse.

I have heard, for example, that the schools are considering cutting the program that provides students with TransPasses to get to and from school. Without these passes, many students will not be able to afford to get to school every day.

Education should not be a luxury affordable only by the wealthy.

Tina Nguyen