www.roanoke.com

C. Warner Crumb

Crumb, of Roanoke, is a retired United Methodist clergyman and U.S. Naval Reserve chaplain.

In contrast to a Roman Catholic priest's abuse of a teen age boy in Dan Casey's column "A haunted heart" (Sept. 29), I offer quite a different experience.

In the 1930s, teenage boys in the town of Cape Charles were exceedingly blessed by the interest, services and leadership of the resident priest, Father McCarthy. Regular in attendance at our baseball practices, he even took us to out-of-town games in his handsome Packard car, the only one in town.

McCarthy's most significant contribution to the town's youth was the establishment of a Boys' Club. He personally arranged housing in a large two-story building owned and unused by the Pennsylvania Railroad. A fraternal order met upstairs. First-floor spacious rooms accommodated billiards, ping-pong and card tables. These, plus lounge chairs and other furnishings, provided days and nights of wholesome hours of fun and pleasure as friendships strengthened away from idleness and trouble on the streets.

This devoted and enterprising Catholic priest helped his youthful charges to organize a cohesive, self-governing boys' club, with a constitution that provided for trial and punishment of those who broke its rules.

Far from an abusive monster, we boys had a father-friend, wise and caring for each and everyone of us, the majority being Protestants. We were greatly blessed: respected, loved and guided in personal growth and social relationships.

In Casey's haunting story, in addition to the sexual predator, the young victim's parish priest, there are two other monsters. First, the priest's derelict bishop, who turned a known sexual predator loose on an unsuspecting parish. And second, a monstrous drug traffic.

Let us draw some social virtues from the story. Throughout Timesland, let there be unlimited numbers of people in prayer and full support of the hapless physician working through his recovery. And let the drug pushers know that the arm of the law with the sword of conscience will some day slay their monstrous dragon.