I don't recall an army of Palatine Guards in bright red, green and yellow striped pantaloons holding spears and surrounding him and trying to prevent his arrest and prosecution. Either it wasn't really "as simple as that" or you should take it up with the Boston Police and the Massachusetts Attorney General. Ignorance, prejudice and bigotry knows no bounds, no matter what the century.
So are you denying that he helped those child molesters find new victims? Helping them find a new parish after they were found to have molested kids in the old one. Again and again.
The only reason Cardinal Law wasn't charged is because he was the Cardinal. He got an undeserved break.
Imagine a daycare center moving their employees from center to center after they were found out to have molested kids. You don't think that the person who did that would have been arrested?
You're right. Ignorance abounds, no matter the century.