Church hierarchy must open their eyes, minds

Date: 11/21/2013

As a former parishioner of St. Stanislaus Basilica, I was very disheartened to learn of the allegation of a student in Baltimore high school accusing Rev. Michael Kolodzieg of sexual abuse in the 1970s. This priest was an excellent pastor of the Basilica and also a very good administrator for the parish. It is my sincere hope that the review board of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops fund this allegation of abuse by Fr. Kolodzieg to be false.

But whatever the final determination is in this serious issue, it is hopefully an eye opener for the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. When will the bishops, cardinals and Pope finally realize the Church has been very narrow minded and seriously deficient in its treatment of women and the issue of celibacy regarding priests? Women are most certainly entitled to become priests and bishops and all priests whether male or female should have the right to choose celibacy or marriage. Women priests would definitely bring an end to the “good old boys club!”

The Catholic Church will either decline or flourish and grow once the hierarchy has their eyes and minds opened to these extremely serious issues.

Joseph Lukasik

Chicopee