This is the first letter that I have written to The Day, and I want to applaud you for the July 20 editorial about the scandal with the Catholic church, "Bankruptcy adds to sad legacy of Catholic Church scandal," (July 20). I grew up in a large Italian Catholic family in Stamford. I attended our local Catholic schools for 12 years. Our daily 8th grade religion class was taught by one of the parish priests. Even as a 13-year-old child, I knew that something was terribly amiss when only the boys were "privileged" enough to remove the priest's cloak, neatly fold it, and place it on the chair. Years later, it was disclosed that this particular individual was molesting many students in our parish.

What happened to him? He was transferred to another parish to continue his illegal activities. Needless to say, I have not been part of the church for many years, even to the point of refusing to get married 40 years ago in the Catholic church, much to my parents' objections.

Bankruptcy is the coward's way out. Isn't the Vatican one of the world's richest organizations? Why are they not part of compensating the wronged individuals? Victims need to be rightfully compensated for their distress and anguish from these criminals.

Dr. Barbara M. Avery

Old Lyme