Letter: Betrayal of trust must be factor in abuse sentencing

Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2005 | 9:03 a.m.

As is obvious, a number of people in trusted positions have abused that trust for their personal sexual gratification. It is particularly sad when that happens to children.

From religious clergy, to teachers, to police, to doctors, to coaches, to Scout leaders and so on, the sexual abuse of children is able to happen because of the position of trust these "professionals" have.

It seems sad to me that a person who robs a senior citizen will receive a certain jail or prison sentence because of the robbery and an equal sentence because the victim was a senior citizen. When a person with a position of trust sexually abuses a child he or she will receive a jail or prison sentence for the abuse and no sentence for the betrayal of trust. This seems wrong.

I am a Roman Catholic priest. I know that I, and other professionals who have seen their profession smeared by a few within their ranks, are deeply hurt. The trust given to us as professionals by the most vulnerable among us must be protected at all costs. A person who violates that trust must face the most serious of consequences.

Sadly, at present no consequences are given. I believe the aged and the young are the most vulnerable among us. Should they not be protected in the same way?

FATHER DAVE CASALEGGIO