It is a very sad situation for the victims. It is disgrace to the Church. Pedophillia is an disgusting crime, even moreso when practiced by a wolf in sheep’s clothing and protected by those who claim to be shepards.
It’s too bad the Vatican is being trashed seemingly unfairly. Still the whole scandal is so repulsive and the cover up so deep and wide-spread that it seems only proper for the pope to take the heat as much as the local bishops who were involved. The Church is an institution and it is going to be seen as a whole, and right now it is very, very tarnished one and rightfully so. When you do bad things that allow your enemies to attack you it is your fault not theirs. You get what you deserve and more.
Anyone who makes excuses for the Church at this point is not accepting reality.
Not making excuses, but, didn’t we already do this? Or, is the great forward-thinking Europe this far behind US?