Catholic cover up

Two of your correspondents (Letters, 18 March) have criticised me for agreeing with the leader of the Roman Catholic church in Austria, who claimed that one of the main reasons for child abuse within his church was "priestly celibacy". On reflection, I would tend to agree with them that celibacy is not one of the main reasons for the abuse, although it is probably a factor.

The main reasons why paedophiles have been attracted to the priesthood is that it provides them with easy access to children and they know that their church leaders will cover up their evil deeds, to protect as they would put it "the good name of the church" and there is no shortage of evidence to prove that this has happened.

I do not understand how these church leaders could believe that their church deserves a good name and respect while at the same time covering up the abuse of children. Their is no hope of the Catholic Church ever restoring its good name until it takes action against these evil men.

JIM CARSON

Larchfield

Balerno