A Catholic pattern

In reference to Earle Canty’s letter to the editor, “Compassion not always helpful,” (Jan. 20). As a former chaplain in two inner-city missions, I agree.

The attitude of misplaced leniency extends far back into Christian Church history, before there was a Catholic Church, when there was just “the church in Jerusalem,” “in Antioch,” or “in Philippi,” etc. In fact, this lenient attitude was one of the five reasons that the early churches split into two distinct groups in the early 300s - one of the groups several hundred years later fully forming the Roman Catholic denomination. It had to do with “the lapsed,” during the ten Roman Empire-sponsored persecutions and what to do with those who at one time said they were Christians, but when confronted with severe persecution, “the lapsed,” recanted, denying Christ.

Now we see this attitude being played out in the Roman Catholic attitude of covering up the sin of child molestation instead of turning the criminal child molesters in to the authorities to face the justice they deserve.

And we see it in their errant attitude of not holding accountable the homeless addicts, but instead becoming involved in perpetuating their addiction(s) again under the guise of “compassion.” Same wrong, lenient attitude 1,800 years later.

William R. Smith

Spokane