Church scrutiny

Controversy might rage over whether Conservative leader David Cameron should invoke the Easter message for his own political ends (your report, 3 April). But that debate is not helped by Father Raniero Cantalamessa's outburst comparing attacks on the Catholic Church with anti-Semitism.

Pope Benedict XVI is head of a Church which has become embroiled in the sensitive issue of paedophile priests and child abuse. It is only right that individuals and the media should question how this situation arose.

In particular, is there something in the structure of the Church's hierarchy which prevents effective monitoring of individual members of the clergy? Are too many young children, about whom nobody else may otherwise care, too often left in the care of predatory individuals?

These are difficult questions and pose a challenge not just for the Church, but also attitudes in the West to the way unwanted children are cared for. In a local authority, for example, there ought to be procedures in place for monitoring those in charge of children in care. They might not always detect abuse where it occurs, but at least there are mechanisms which ought to allow scrutiny.

Those responsible for overall management can be called to account, at least in theory, either through the courts, scrutiny committees, or social work inspection procedures. A Church that puts a high premium on loyalty, piety and obedience must recognise this: too much rigidity can be exploited by a minority for the most evil of ends.

BOB TAYLOR

Shiel Court

Glenrothes, Fife