09/21/07 - Posted from the Daily Record newsroom
Catholic leader inspired others
To the Editor:

It is with great sadness that we have come to know that Monsignor
Kenneth Lasch is removing himself from his heroic role as public
advocate. He has long been a standard-bearer for the thousands of
children who have suffered form the sexual abuse of priests and the
many more Catholics in the pew they have abused psychologically as
well. During the course of the crisis in the church, those of us for
whom Catholicism is in our DNA have become bereft of our identity; we
have seen that abuse has been endemic to the church from our most
formative years. But we always had the courageous Father Lasch for
inspiration and information. He is our bright light as we endure this
darkest night of the soul.

Father Lasch has known that we are angry beyond measure, yet he
counsels fidelity and hope, reminding us that the church is always and
forever ours. I will take to my grave the honor of calling this great,
holy man my friend -- one who restored my faith when I was hanging on
by my fingernails.

PATRICIA DEMETRIO

Pine Brook