Visalia Times-Delta from Visalia, California • 6

v. ssv.ss TIMES-DELTAADVANCE-REGISTER Editorial board Paula Goudreau, President and Publisher Pete Wevurskl, Interim Executive Editor Melinda Morales, Community Conversation Editor Kathleen Johnson, Tulare Chamber CEO Raymond Macareno, consultant Sam Sciacca, business owner "Oversight of network news generally is a matter best sorted out by the viewing public and the news media." Joe Barton, U.S. representative, R-Texas, 2004 PAGE6A FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2014 CALL: 735-3277 FAX: 735-3399 EMAIL: editorialvisaliatimesdelta.com I "1 EDITORIAL cs'ots'E: Ss ftlfoe lLomiffdDirEiiooiiafie ffalllourit trusted to lead them. By refusing to deal squarely, and globally, with allegations of abuse, the church is asking Swearingen to bear the heavy burden for a history much larger than his own sealed past. Pope apologizes Over the past few months Pope Francis has said more about the disgrace than any Catholic leader before him, calling the actions of some priests "evil" and vowing action on the part of the Vatican to investigate claims of abuse and punish perpetrators.

He has begged for forgiveness from the abused. Catholics around the world have cheered at the willingness of the new pope to put things right. But far from a reality, punishments remain little more than a hope. Children continue to be abused at Editor's note: This page is devoted to the reaction within the community of the installation of the Rev, Eric Swearingen as the new pastor of The Catholic Church ofVisalia. Following are letters to the editor received over the past week.

Previous stories can be accessed at our website at www. visaliatimesdelta.com. The installation last weekend of Visalia's newest Catholic pastor, the Reverend Eric Swearingen, was met with an outpouring of joy from the Catholic community. The Catholic Church of Visalia was welcoming home one of its sons who had attended George McCann school and graduated from Redwood High School in the heart of a community brimming with hometown pride. The installation and mass at St.

Mary's Church in downtown Visalia on Sunday was held in front of a standing- room only crowd. But a pall was cast on Fr. Swea-ringen's installation by a long-ago but lingering allegation of molestation from a former altar boy when Swearingen was conducting ministry in the Fresno diocese and the larger, unceasing scandal within the Catholic church of sexual molestation of youth. The criminal case against Swearingen from eight years ago was ultimately declared a mistrial with both sides having to acknowledge the other's that abuse likely occurred but the diocese had no knowledge. A second civil trial never made it to court once both sides agreed to binding arbitration and keeping the terms secret.

The church's behavior over the decades has only prolonged a shameful past that continues to plague unsuspecting children and the priests en the hands of pedophiles within the church. It is without question a small percentage of the priesthood, but percentages matter little to the victims or their families. Two percent or two priests the pain is eternal and the crime undeniably changes the direction of these children's lives. Until the church can discover its backbone and do more than apologize for the sins of its priests, innocent priests may be forced to bear unwarranted scrutiny and certainly unwanted attention, but that will be the un- fortunate fallout. The church should expect congregations around the world to continue to cast a wary eye on the accused.

Better the shoulders of the priests to withstand the occasional unfounded accusation of sin than to risk exposing children to pedophiles within the church. It's a climate the children did not create. COMMENTARY LETTERS TO So much for 'zero tolerance' Missing the point Your article new pastor," published July 11) has killed this guy off before he even got started. Quite a hatchet job. The article completely missed the point of his new ministry, but it might win your reporter Kyle Harvey a plaque for investigative reporting.

Is someone at the paper reviewing this stuff before it goes out? I assume you folks will set a new record in canceled subscriptions with this gem and I'm not even Catholic. Allan Fisher Visalia Err on side of caution As a Catholic, I am upset, saddened, embarrassed and appalled by what I read about Eric Swearingen in the newspaper and online. I urge everyone to Google his name, read everything about him My name is Larry Drivon and I was the lead plaintiff's attorney in the case of Rocha vs the Diocese of Fresno and Rev. Eric Swearingen. I have seen the piece that you wrote on his elevation to a new position in Visalia new pastor," published July 11).

There are a few more facts that were not included in your article. Juan Rocha was, after his early problem with the Marine Corps, able to not only join the U.S. Army, but achieved the rank of E-7 in only seven years. That is a very rare accomplishment. His status, standing and rank in the Army was attested to his Command Sgt.

Major who was one of the highest ranking enlisted men in the U.S. Army. He testified that not only would he trust his life to Sgt. Rocha, but he had. It was established that Sgt.

Rocha was a member of an elite Army group which could not be further identified. To question Sgt. Rocha's integri ty, honesty or commitment to his country is an abomination, and to suggest that he was decorated with fraudulent awards is to accuse him of a federal crime which would have been a salacious fact at the time if it had been true. To suggest that now is the act of a coward. Juan Rocha is an American hero, and that fact was confirmed by his commanding officer who testified.

I will not sit by and allow his honesty or' veracity to come into question. The jury came down on his side. Next, the jury did not find that it was "likely" that the abuse happened, the jury determined with their verdict that the abuse had occurred. It was not unanimous, but under our system of justice, it need not be. The fact was established.

Following the verdict, the bishop suggested that binding arbitration would be his preferred next step. Sgt. Rocha agreed, OTHER held some of the perpetrators responsible. Given that history and those circumstances, Pope Francis deserves credit for trying to deal with the situation in his own unorthodox way. Not only did he meet with six of the victims, he begged for their forgiveness and vowed to hold bishops accountable for their handling of pedophile priests.

Do the pope's actions change what happened? No. In his remarks, the pope made no mention of the countless victims or their families around the having endured the agony of having it displayed to the world that his first sexual experience was at the hands of a Catholic priest. Sgt. Rocha is now married with children. The arbitration did take place, and the Diocese picked the arbitrator, and we agreed to allow any evidence that the Diocese wanted to use to be used.

The Diocese requested, and we agreed to keeping the arbitration result confidential, but I can say that there was a 26-page written decision following several full days of arbitration. The arbitrator was retired Judge Ronald Sabraw, the Bishop's choice. I can also say that the arbitration was binding, and that the Diocese thereafter paid a very large award. That was not a voluntary act, and by definition the fact that the Diocese was required to pay, and did so, required a finding not only that the molestation had occurred as alleged, but VIEWS world, or whether bishops and other prelates involved in the cover-up would be fired or demoted. But it is a start.

Asking for forgiveness is one of the first steps in the long process of healing. Through his words and his actions, the leader of the Catholic Church has acknowledged that this traumatic situation took place, and that those involved will be held responsible. Again, that is an important first step. And, it is another example of the willingness that TODAY'S TALKER THE EDITOR and the case, and prayerfully make their own decisions. The Pope, just this week, prayed with victims, asked for their forgiveness, and said "abusive priests profane the very image of God and are more than despicable," and he begged for forgiveness, "for the sin of omission on the part of church leaders who did not respond adequately to reports of abuse." What was the bishop thinking when he appointed Eric Swearingen as the head of the Catholic Church of Visalia? Surely, there was someone better suited for that important position.

The length of time that has passed and the issues of the victim do not erase the verdict of the jury. I think we need to err on the side of caution when it comes to children. Carol Abeyta Visalia website Network of those Abused by Priests God help them "May God help them if they are guilty." Miguel Guitarus Writing is on the wall As a Catholic, I am saddened by this story. It is hard to turn the other cheek when the writing on the wall is as plain as day. This article is very upsetting on so many levels.

I guess I would feel better about our leadership if Monsi-gnor Ray, Father Rod, or even Father Jesus were still with us." Raquel Roa Institute at California State University, Fresno, was established to honor the former legislator's legacy. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation. also that the Diocese had prior notice of Rev. Swearingen's "problem." I would be more than pleased to release a copy of Judge Sabraw's findings and award if the Diocese will allow it. I think your readers would find it interesting.

What is interesting to me is that although the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has adopted a "zero tolerance" policy should there be an allegation that is merely "credible," here we have a situation where not only a jury, but also a highly regarded mediator have found Rev. Eric Swearingen to have been a molester of children, and yet the Diocese of Fresno continues to place him in positions of high responsibility including pastor, and head of the Catholic High School. So much for zero tolerance. Larry Drivon is the founder of Stockton-based Drivon Turner Waters law firm.

order Pope Francis has shown to address difficult situations that the Church appeared to sidestep or avoid before he became the Church's spiritual leader. Hopefully, Pope Francis' actions in all these situations signify a change in the old order, something that the Catholic Church desperately needs. He's far from perfect; humans are imperfect. But the pope is willing to address challenges, not just sweep them under the rug. For that we should all be thankful.

Today on "The Maddy 'Tracking: Them Are Fightin' Words!" Guests Bill Allayaud, Director of Governmental Affairs at Environmental Working Group; Rock Zierman, CEO of California Independent Petroleum Association; and Jason Marshall, Chief Deputy Director of the Change coming in old The following was published Julyy 9, 2014, in The Berkshire Eagle of Pittsfield It's impossible to justify the Catholic Church's decision to cover up the allegations of sexual abuse by clergy members that exploded like a July 4 firecracker several years ago. Sexual abuse in any form is a heinous act and has long-lasting repercussions for the victims. Church officials did not handle the scandal or its fallout well, and the higher-up officials have never From the Choose prudence "No one knows more about the child sex abuse charges against Fr. Eric than the 12 impartial jurors who listened to days of evidence and testimony. By a 9-3 margin, they voted that it was "more than likely" that he molested a boy.

So you can choose to believe a charming accused child molester or his boss. Or you can choose to believe unbiased citizens who looked closely at all the facts. You can choose to be prudent and keep your kids away from Fr. Eric. Or you can choose to be reckless.

Barbara Dorris, SNAP, Survivors FRACKING California Department of Conservation, discuss the fracking issue with Maddy Institute Executive Director Mark Keppler. The show airs at 7 p.m. today on KVPT Valley PBS. View previous programs at www.maddy The Kenneth L. Maddy WRITE TO US Send letters to the Visalia Times-Delta, P.O.Box 31, Visalia, CA 93279; Fax: 735-3399 or emaii: editorialVisaliaTimesDelta.com.

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