“Radical and extreme” were the words used by Bishop Robert Deeley to describe Gov. Mills’ proposed abortion rights protections (“Bishop Deeley calls proposal to allow abortions late in pregnancy ‘beyond troubling’,” Jan. 18). The last person I want to hear from concerning a women’s right to choose is a Catholic priest.

The Catholic Church is rife with rot from the Pope down, as they have empowered and institutionalized pedophiles around the world. They have willfully chosen to protect the church over the child victims and their families. Their actions, or lack thereof, prove that the Church protects those who sexually or physically abuse children. There are countless examples, including Augusta’s own Father Curran.

Recall Archbishop of Boston Cardinal Law admitted to moving pedophile priests around to protect the church while more children were abused and their lives destroyed. Pope John Paul II appointed Law as Archpriest of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore to protect Law from criminal prosecution. Upon Law’s death, Pope Francis gave a benediction for him at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. St. Peter’s is regarded as one of the holiest Catholic shrines. That is a shining example of the church not caring about victims.

Throughout the years the Catholic Conference has spent millions trying to protect the church from victims. They have even tried using our First Amendment’s separation of church and state as a shield to block a negligence lawsuit against a Roman Catholic archdiocese in a case before our Supreme Court.

Deeley’s pontificating about protecting children is the height of hypocrisy. The Catholic Church is a danger to the well being of children around the world to this very moment. The truth is Deeley is “radical and extreme.” It might come as a surprise that Deeley has contested lawsuits filed by victims claiming abuse, or that Maine’s diocese has never released a comprehensive list of accused priests.

Mike Grove

Belgrade Lakes