WHEN Richard Nixon was embroiled in the Watergate scandal, he said: “The buck stops with me. There will be no whitewash in the White House.”

Subsequently he did the honourable thing and resigned.

Wouldn’t you think the Catholic Church would have at least similar if not higher moral standards? It appears not.

The ridiculous insistence on celibacy for priests has directly contributed to the child abuse scandal. The suggestion that atheists are a source of evil is so outrageous it should be treated with the contempt it deserves.

I don’t suppose Prof Richard Dawkins will lose much sleep over Pope Benedict’s remarks. It seems as if the buck does not stop at the Vatican.

Hugh Pender, Darlington.

REGARDING the cost of the Pope’s visit, it may or may not interest JM Gowland (HAS, Sept 20) to know of the visit’s unforeseen knock on effects.

The firm that produced the tartan scarf worn by the Pope in Edinburgh has been inundated with orders and can’t cope with demand.

Add to this the tourists and pilgrims (and their money) here for the visit and a different picture begins to emerge.

Post event press/media generally agreed that the visit generated much joy, harmony and excitement within and without the Catholic community.

Is it not time to stop being negative about an event unique in our history, a sentiment expressed by the Queen, Prime Minister, Rowan Williams and many other eminent public figures?

And such visits are not just about sight-seeing.

There is, for example, the appeal to the Pope for help from Sakineh Mohammedi’s (the woman facing stoning) son.

The Catholic Herald says: “The Holy See has, like Brazil, a good working relationship with Iran not to mention its neutrality and skills in conflict mediation.

Teheran values the spiritual importance of the Holy See in International affairs.”

We must hope and pray that success results.

Michael Baldasera, Darlington.