David McGrath

A priest who sexually abuses children betrays the Catholic family’s trust and should be immediately terminated by the Catholic Church, writes David McGrath in the following viewpoint. Children are taught that priests have special powers and deserve the utmost respect and are thus reluctant to reveal abuse, argues McGrath. Moreover, he maintains, Catholic parents are proud, not suspicious, when a priest pays special attention to their child. A zero-tolerance policy is necessary, he argues, because one instance of betrayal ruins lives and destroys the trust that families place in men of God. Mc-Grath is a writer and teaches writing and Native American literature at the College of DuPage, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to McGrath, why are...