Having read the Cumberlege report, I remain bemused by its reluctance to insist that bishops, like the rest of the population, should be compelled by law to report all cases of alleged abuse to the civil authorities, leaving due process to follow.

No further interference in the process by the episcopy should be tolerated especially the use of "administrative leave" without formal charges being brought.

Parliament should be asked in all cases of alleged abuse to provide the safeguard of anonymity for all parties concerned until formal charges are brought, justice demands nothing less.

Criminal law takes precedent over Canon Law in these cases, a fact that appears to escape the bishops, despite most of them being qualified Canon lawyers!

Clergy should have a legal defence organisation provided for them just like all others in the caring professions, this may prove difficult whilst the bishops continue to pretend that the clergy are not employees of the Catholic Church.

Dr. Michael Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.

Surprising that a "proper church " would need to be told this at all ! Am wondering why this isn't such a problem in "improper" churches . Wondering exactly what is proper about the Catholic church at all ?
Seems to me that a church that allows this sort of abuse to continue is so far short of being proper that I can scarcely believe they have the cheek to preach to anybody . Still , its easier to knock others than deal with your own perverts , especially when you have so many !

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

It has been proved in the US in many trial cases, and by several investigative books by former and current priests, that in addition to the heinous crimes of abuse, the bishops and cardinals knowingly aided and abetted child abusers over many decades by moving them from parish to parish and not involving the proper authorities, in spite of being fully aware of the recidivist nature of the crime and the criminal. Perhaps if a few bishops and cardinals were to be put on trial for their complicity in these crimes it would jolt the rest out of their casual attitude that they are above the law. Witness the late Pope's treatment of Boston's Cardinal Law, one of the owrst offenders.

Recommended reading: :Sex, Priests and Secret Codes: The Catholic Church's 2000-year paper trail of sexual abuse", by one current and two former priests.

Heredal, Edinburgh, UK