Pope Benedict talked about many things on his very well-received visit to our country. One of the things he focused on was sexual-abuse cases involving priests and how the rules will be changed to avoid any future cases. He did not -- nor likely ever will, talk about the core of this problem. The Catholic Church will continue to rule with an iron hand about this.
Priests must be allowed to marry. If they were, there likely would be a reduction in sexual-abuse cases. The church is fighting human nature. And the result will be that the church will continue to lose the battle.
Today, churches are sharing priests, and a shortage of priests is expected.
Of course, this abuse occurs in other denominations, but it is not widespread. It hasn't always been like this. In early church years, priests were allowed to marry. These rules were put in place later. They can be changed back to how they were.
ELMER OTTO, SHAKOPEE
