Abuse Survivor Is Her ‘Brave Baby Sister’

I read “Unlocking Painful Secrets From the Past� (June 7) with sadness and frustration.

My sister was molested by a Catholic priest and “friend of the family� when she was 9 years old. Thankfully, my parents believed her story and informed the priest’s superiors. They transferred the deviant priest to Arizona. No reprimand. No penalty. No apology.

Though the incident happened in 1971, it wasn’t until 1989 that our family learned the whereabouts of this abusive priest. My sister tracked him down and found him living with his family in Washington. Like Father James Robert Porter, this priest had left the church. My sister sought him out because the emotional pain from his abuse was so great that she had to confront her molester so she could continue with her life in relative peace.

And confront him she did, my brave baby sister. The thing that struck her the most was that she was no longer a terrified little girl, and he was no longer a frightening big man. He made his amends. She walked away with her head held up.

My sisters and I no longer consider ourselves members of the Catholic church.

REGINA LARK

Canoga Park