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FROM A VICTIM
Thank you for your article “God, Incorporated” [by Ron Donoho, July]. Through Andrea Leavitt’s words, you were able to convey some of the psychological harm that has been heaped on the lives of victims [of pedophile priests].
I am a victim. When I was an altar boy, it happened to me at the same church where the abuse of Dianna Williams occurred, Holy Spirit Catholic Church. This has not only affected entire lives but also the relationships we hold most dear, those between parent and child, husband and wife, religion and God. All of my life I have been living with this, and only now am I coming to terms with it. For 27 years I held it in, compartmentalizing it and not wanting to let it out of its box. All this time, I did not realize how it has affected my life and those closest to me.
I am in the deepest depression of my life. Having to recount what happened to me over and over again (to my support group, my attorney, paralegal and, next week, to an independent psychologist and a police detective) has put a drain on me I cannot put into words. It is not about monetary value. It is about why the church won’t just tell the truth. Apparently, money is the only thing that affects these people.
If the church and [San Diego] Bishop [Robert] Brom are so pious and righteous, why do they need to hide behind lawyers? Why can’t they just admit the truth, like they preach to all? This is a business, from top to bottom——a business interested in the financial bottom line and not worried about anyone’s soul, not even their own. [They have committed] the most heinous of physical and psychological crimes against other human beings, against children——those the church needs most to protect.
This has all gone on for too many years, and there needs to be accountability——for victims like me, for those victims who have not spoken up and for those who have died feeling guilty and ashamed of what was perpetrated on them. It is time for all of this to end. I hope your article opens the eyes of many and gives others the courage to stand up and come forth. I would not wish on my worst enemy the pain and suffering I have lived through and what I am going through today.
RAFAEL SENIOR
SAN DIEGO
GOD’S LAW?
Thanks for the thoughtful piece on the mess in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego. At the heart of the matter is the ill-conceived corporate structure of the diocese and parishes under a musty relic known as “corporation sole,” and its equivalent civil law structure that has two nominal lay trustees, but where all control is with the bishop, as is the case here in Connecticut and elsewhere around the country. Placing all civil law authority in the lap of one person is an extraordinary luxury under civil law and materially imprudent.
Real reform will only take place once the state civil law is amended to reflect something akin to a traditional not-for-profit board structure with a broad-based board of seven or more parish-elected lay members, the pastor and bishop——provided, however, that the theological, sacramental and dogma remain in the exclusive control of the bishop. All general administrative matters would be subject to a one-person, one-vote process. This “board of collaborators” would be created under state law and vested with fiduciary duties and responsibilities.
Importantly, the first archbishop in the United States, Archbishop John Carroll of Baltimore, Maryland, and Bishop John England of Charleston, South Carolina, used state civil law to create governing bodies that incorporated the laity and included fiduciary duties.
TOM GALLAGHER
GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT
BEST OF THE BEST
Your “Best of San Diego” issue [by Julia Beeson, Tom Blair, Ron Donoho, Marcia Manna and David Nelson, June] should have included a San Diego Magazine nod for best “Best of San Diego” listings. It’s got to be the most extensive I’ve ever seen. And cool photography!
Also, it was fun seeing what some of our local “notables” regard as San Diego’s bests. Wouldn’t mind downing one of those greasy Nessy burgers up in Fallbrook with [Channel 8’s] Larry Himmel and then running it off in Old Poway Park with [NBC 7/39’s] Kimberly King.
BING WAVERLY
CARLSBAD
THE NEW 20S?
Ron Donoho definitely got it right with his “Techno-Fitness” column [Journal, May]. The 40s are the new 20s, and more and more young-at-heart, used-to-be “technophobes” are catching on.
The truth is, there are more than 78 million boomers out there who, like Ron, face the same conflicts in staying fit. Whether we realize it or not, the trend toward using modern technology is growing and is something to actively embrace. Tech savvy and fitness do go hand-in-hand. In fact, many boomers are now going online looking for ways to stay active, shattering age stereotypes about a lack of technological understanding and “lazy days” retirement myths in the process.
While there are many new products and services being marketed to the lucrative baby boomer niche, little has been done in the online environment to cater to this health-conscious group . . . until now.
I was an avid walker who once averaged 20 miles per week——even into my 50s and 60s. This stopped a couple of years ago when I had knee surgery. Unable to exercise as rigorously as I would have liked, I found myself going online in search for advice and mobility products specific to my situation. To my dismay, I found nothing. This inspired me and my two daughters to embrace our entrepreneurial spirit and launch Active Authority (activeauthority.com). Our goal: to use the Internet to empower, inspire and motivate other 45-plusers to live active, healthy lives.
Active Authority merges fitness and technology with a wealth of research, news and information on how to maintain a healthy life——physically and mentally. It’s a community resource that features an online catalog of cutting-edge fitness products, a monthly e-newsletter with original content, and more.
Ron was right: It’s time to forget about the “technohump,” embrace our “technabilities” and use the Internet to our advantage, as a way to be healthy and fit at any age. Thanks to San Diego Magazine for raising this important issue for such a large community. You’re right on the money, as usual.
ELEANOR METHOT
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
FOG LITE
I am moving to San Diego, and was researching the weather when I came across the column “In a Fog” [Journal, Ron Donoho, June]. Not only did I learn about May Gray and June Gloom, I laughed out loud. It reminded me of a song, “Ain’t it Foggy Outside?”
WENDY SCAFA
HAWAII
That would be the song “Sandman,” as performed by America:
Ain’t it foggy outside?
All the planes have been grounded.
Ain’t the fire inside?
Let’s all go stand around it.
Funny, I’ve been there
And you’ve been here
And we ain’t had no time to drink that beer.
——EDITOR
LETTERS WELCOME
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