Some Catholic correspondents in The Times are very upset that all the sleazy details of the sex abuse by priests have been exposed rather than having been swept under the carpet. The reason why they’re so upset is because their Church’s honour and reputation are involved. If a layman’s honour and reputation had been involved, they may not have cared less whether all the details were exposed or not. Some Catholic correspondents and columnists even try to excuse abusive priests.

In a recent write-up, Lino Spiteri pleaded human frailty for abusive priests. I’d like to see him use the same feeble excuse of human frailty when a layman, rather than a priest, is accused of sexually abusing boys.

In The Times, we often see letters by Catholic correspondents who try to excuse abusive priests by telling us “he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone”.

I’d like to see the same Catholics using the same excuse before a magistrate if they happen to commit a crime. We’ll see how far they get before the judge with their biblical quotation!

A female correspondent in The Times, who contributes letters on all kinds of subjects – from dubious saints to bikinis, recently complained that the Maltese victims of sex abuse by priests were now asking for a “pound of flesh”. Well, at least, they’re not asking that the offending priests should drown themselves “in the depth of the sea”, as Jesus told child offenders to do!