Daniel Maguire

National Catholic Reporter, April 27, 2007 by Paul J. Ackerman

So the U.S. bishops felt challenged by the position of Marquette University theologian Daniel Maguire on birth control and other topics (NCR, April 6). They were so piqued, in fact, as to state, "The bishops are the successors of the apostles, who are given the authority to proclaim the teaching of Jesus Christ."

I never knew that Jesus taught his successors to cover up criminal clerics, did you?

The bishops go on to say, "Laity and clergy embody and express the sense of the faith precisely when they conform their consciences to what the church authentically professes and teaches."

Sorry, bishops, my conscience will just never be able to be conformed to your practice of allowing pedophile priests/bishops to function in the name of Jesus.

PAUL J. ACKERMAN

Columbus, Miss.