Horny clerics - Letter to the Editor

Washington Monthly, June, 2002 by James M. Shields

I have been reading and admiring Charles Peters for more years than I care to admit, but his item about the current furor over sexual abuse of children in the Roman Catholic Church ("Tilting at Windmills" April 2002) has me wondering if he periodically goes off the deep end. The problem is not the "threat of horny clerics" but the reality of pedophiles, who would not be controlled by "marrying either women or gay partners." Nor does having no altar boys solve the problem.

Many of the children were taken out of Christian education classes and abused. Let's not blame altar boys for the problem, or does Mr. Peters want to take a further leap and blame rape on women's suggestive clothing? Please tell him to get a grip. By the way, I am a happily married Episcopal priest.

JAMES M. SHIELDS
Columbia, Md.