Postscript.

"I think that dissent is the major cause of the sexual abuse crisis because it has loosened priests and laity alike from their core beliefs, and particularly the core beliefs about sexual morality."

--Deal W. Hudson, Bush adviser, right wing commentator and editor of the conservative Catholic magazine, Crisis. (1)

"The way the story was so obsessively covered resulted in unnecessary damage to the bishops and the entire Catholic community."

--Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, speaking to the national convention of Religion Newswriters Association. (2)

"A woman is obliged to carry a child for the full period of pregnancy."

--Bishop Frantisek Tondra of Spis, Slovakia. (4)

"A priest is married to the church. You can't be a bigamist and these people want to be bigamists."

--Al Szews, president of the Milwaukee chapter of the conservative Catholic organization, Catholics United for the Faith, reacting to a letter signed by almost a third of priests in Milwaukee urging changes to the celibacy requirement for priests. (3)

"While I cannot perform same-sex marriages, neither can I support the institution of the Roman Catholic church in its efforts to suppress those who wish to live a more open, honest and healthier lifestyle."

--Rev. Paul Lundrigan of Goulds, Newfoundland. (5)

"Allowing children to be adopted by persons living in [same-sex] unions would actually mean doing violence to these children."

--Vatican document urging politicians to oppose any legislation that would allow gay marriages. (6)

"We know who you are. Are you aware that watching this film you are committing a sin?"

--Two priests, who filmed those attending the screening of Peter Mullan's new film, "The Magdalene Sisters," at the Venice Film Festival. (7)

"The reality was a lot worse. "

--Survivors of the Magdalene laundries reacting to the cruelties imposed by nuns on "fallen women," as revealed by Peter Mullan's new film, "The Magdalene Sisters." (8)

(1) Alan Cooperman, "Bishops Group Discuss Scandal: Conservatives Say Celibacy Not Cause," Washington Post, September B, 2003; (2) Stephen Kent, "Bishop Gregory critiques news coverage of sex abuse scandal," Catholic News Service, September 8, 2003; (3) Tom Heinen and Mary Zahn, "Effect or priests' celibacy Letter debated," Milweukee Journal Sentinel, August 20, 2003; (4) Czech News Agency, "Church disagrees with abortion law," July 6, 2003; (5) Barb Sweet, "Newfoundland priest preaches against church's stance on same sex marriage," Canadian Press, August 13, 2003; (6) Boston Globe, "Overreaching by Rome," editorial, August 2, 2003; (7) Mark Jenkins, "Talking Pictures: Beyond Belief," Washington City Paper, August 22, 2003; (8) Nancy Ramsey, "An abuse scandal with nuns as villains," New York Times, July 27, 2003.