A few weeks ago I wrote a letter to the editor about “The Da Vinci Code.” It explained how women were effectively prevented from holding a position of power in Christian Churches. This letter will look at the pedophile issue and how it could have been prevented. To do this we need to look at the apparitions of the Virgin Mary. I’ve been a student of these appearances for many years. The most notable in recent times were 1917 Fatima, Portugal; 1961-1965 Garabandal, Spain; and 1981 Medjogorje, Yugoslavia. Her messages vary but usually they concern prayer, repentance and warnings about what will be if mankind does not change its ways. So let’s get back to the issue at hand: the pedophile scandal in Christian Churches. Let’s take a closer look at her appearances at Garabandal, Spain, from 1961 to 1965 www.apparitions.org/garabandal.html. Mary appeared to four little girls ages 11 and 12 many times and left important messages. We need to look at part of the message dated June 18, 1965. “As my message of October 18 (1961) has not been complied with and has not been made known to the world, I am advising you that this is the last one. Before, the cup was filling up. Now it is flowing over. Many cardinals, many bishops and many priests are on the road to perdition and are taking many souls with them.” (Perdition means Hell.) That last sentence says it all. Every clergyman in the world knew exactly what Mary was talking about. Twenty-seven years later, in 1992, Fr. James Porter’s crimes were made public. It was the first case of many. That was more than enough time to rein in all the perverts and avoid the disaster that followed. I guess the churches had to learn the hard way since they didn’t listen to one very special woman. As I studied these apparitions of Mary, I found it interesting that God sends a woman to relay these important warnings. Why not one of the apostles or a pope or maybe one of the prophets? No, it is always the Virgin Mary who brings the messages from God. Clearly such an important task is an obvious sign of authority. Maybe it is because Jesus and his mother Mary were the only two humans who ever had direct contact with God. They were unique. Personally, I think that all pedophiles need to go to prison. When priest pedophiles are released, I think they should go to the Vatican and scrub floors until the Pope sets up stricter guidelines for priests. As for other Christian clergy, there are lots of other floors to scrub that are far away from children. Audre Kramer, Watkins
