'Deeply ashamed' of local church too

In response to the April 22 editorial cartoon, "Deeply Ashamed," I am reminded of the excellent article (among her many) that News-Gazette staff writer Mary Schenk wrote in July 1997 about former Champaign Mayor Robert Dodd who was charged with molesting a 14-year-old school girl over a period of five years. At that time the civil suit was thrown out because it had not been filed within the time allowed by law. During the preparation of the lawsuit Dodd admitted, through his attorney, that he had a sexual relationship with the girl in the mid-1960s.

After three years of court hearings in September 1997, Dodd came immediately to St. Patrick Parish in Urbana. For seven years he advised people in the Right of Christian Indoctrination of Adults about faith. His experience as a priest from 1965 until 1971 made him an expert.