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To keep kids safe, church hiring process must change

Re: Church is easily misled, despite the evidence, editorial, Sept. 28.

I am a parishioner of 27 years at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Dunedin and a parent of the school for seven years. My initial reaction to the arrest of church facilities manager William Forte was defensive because my children were in danger. My next reactions were anger, betrayal and distrust.

There are not going to be any right answers or explanations that are going to make hiring Forte proper regardless of his qualification for the position.

The sadness I feel for the alleged victim is immense, as well as any victim of a crime against a child. My prayers are with the alleged victim. Predators don't wear flashing lights or signs. They blend right into their surroundings.

While we would all like answers and feel the need to hold someone responsible, we cannot turn back the hands of time; therefore, we cannot undo the crimes committed by Forte in 1992 nor the hiring of Forte.

We can, however, become a voice for our children and work toward changing the hiring and screening process for all employees and volunteers. Although the Catholic Diocese and Our Lady of Lourdes have a process in place, it only works when the process is adhered to. There needs to be no gray area, no hesitation in not hiring someone with a known background, regardless of the age of the charge or the circumstances surrounding the charge. A candidate's qualifications to perform a job should not be the deciding factor.

The diocese needs to have a board with parents involved in the hiring process. Sometimes, parents see things differently than those who do not have children, not because the ones without children do not care for the safety and well-being of our children, but because that is our job - that is where our maternal instinct takes over. That is my one and only job and I feel the need and the duty to make sure that my children are safe.

I believe in the Catholic school and that Our Lady of Lourdes is the best school for my children. I believe that there needs to be immediate changes made for the safety of our school children and any other children that may come in contact with anyone working or volunteering in the school or church.

I believe we should move forward and take immediate action to completely change the screening process. I believe we should change the hiring process to include hiring committees. I believe we should do everything in our power to make this a safer environment for all who attend and/or visit the school and church. As a concerned parent, I believe it's about our children and their safety, as well as the initial approach in assuring that history does not repeat itself.

Friend of charged official shouldn't question accuser

Re: Church official should not be assaulted by lies from all sides, letter, Sept. 29.

I am writing in response to the woman who knows the man who has been accused of trying to molest the young boy at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Dunedin. I understand that she wants to stand strong for her friend and feels the facts have been misconstrued or inaccurately reported. That "the charges he pleaded guilty to were misdemeanors" does not prove innocence, only that he was convicted of a lesser crime than charged.

As for the accuser, just because he has been in trouble before, why should his credibility be in question? Just as she is urging us not to judge someone without the facts, I urge her not to judge the accuser for having been in trouble before in his life; he could be telling the truth.

I also find it very coincidental that this man accused has been investigated in the past for the very same thing he is being accused of at this time. I don't believe that the young man accusing him now would have known anything of the past charges when even the Diocese of St. Petersburg was not privy to these charges.

Sad about the day the good music station died

Recently you published a letter from one of your readers which outlined his frustration with the loss of radio station WGUL-AM 860. I couldn't agree more. My wife and I were avid listeners to this wonderful station that played music we could relate to - music we grew up with, musical stars we remembered and sang along with.

In one fell swoop, it was gone. No warning, no reason - just a change in ownership and format.

I wonder about these new owners and management, and I wonder if we will ever have another radio station that plays the decent music of the '40s and '50s and, in some cases, the '60s which we remember and relate to.

Sir, I agree with your letter wholeheartedly. We lost a beautiful entertainment center when we lost station WGUL-AM 860.

Couple find grass greener in Pinellas than other side

Re: Residents say farewell to their old home county, letter, Sept. 22.

To those folks leaving Pinellas County, my wife and I just moved to this area from a larger city in Florida and have personally found it a much nicer place to live. If you can find another place without at least some of these problems, good luck. Sounds to me like you're a little obnoxious yourself. I doubt that you will be missed.

[Last modified September 30, 2005, 01:35:17]