Priestly paedophilia has become a topical subject recently. However, some facts ought to be kept in mind. Firstly, only a very small percentage of priests are affected - what about all the good work and beneficial actions of all the rest?

The few, rare cases of paedophile priests should not cast a shadow over the vast majority of hard-working priests who are of great service to society. Naturally, those few cases are to be abhorred and this brings me to my second point.

Not only paedophile priests but any paedophiles are to be abhorred. So why is it that this particular Maltese priest was mentioned by name, and I agree with this, but other paedophiles who are not priests are not identified? That families of abused children and abuser will suffer is no excuse. Don`t priests have families? Don`t the children they abuse have families?

Paedophiles should be shown up for what they are, whoever or whatever they are. As a parent I have a right to know if `unsafe` persons of this sort are about.

My third point is that the Church to whom we, as Catholics, belong, is giving a living testimony of Christ`s teachings. By this commitment to punish clerics publicly if they commit such an offence it is performing an exercise in humility and love for mankind. Isn`t this all that Christ stands for?