No, Bonnie. I don't have a solution. Nobody has, and so they run around crazy looking for somebody to blame.

I do know that the problem will be solved only if people take responsibility, rather than simply passing the blame onto somebody else. You don't want to hear this, but why didn't the parents of the victims report the crimes to the police? And if the police didn't listen, why didn't the parents keep pushing until somebody listened? Who better than the parents to fight for justice for their children?

Yes, it was cowardly for church officials to attempt to cover up these crimes, but they were going to have to pay a high price for what happened. I do not absolve them whatsoever of the blame they must shoulder for covering up these terrible crimes - but what did the parents have to lose by reporting these crimes?

I was brought up to think that if I saw an injustice, it was my responsibility to see that it was put right. That fact that somebody didn't listen to me the first time, wasn't a valid excuse that allowed me to drop the matter.

The question now is not what happened fifteen years ago. The question is what we can do NOW to prevent these crimes from continuing. What's your answer? I really want to know. I want a rational, honest discussion, not a constant circle of nothing but blame. Blame doesn't heal.

-Joe Offer-