[bdeaner]

The failure of the shepherds to protect and defend the sheep under their care and the allowance of this year after year is the reason I would never consider becoming a Catholic and if I were I’d leave.

And you think the Protestant reformers have done better? LOL. Mainline Protestantism is disappearing at an alarming rate. At least the Catholics are holding their ground in the U.S. and growing worldwide, especially in Africa and Asia.

Catholics need to learn to take responsibility for their catechesis and go to their Churches, not to the Universities, to learn the Desposit of Faith. It is freely available to anyone. All you need is a Bible and a copy of the Catechism. It's all there. The problem with many Catholics is just laziness. They would rather be "Cafeteria Catholics" or listen to heretics, because then they don't have to change their ways and instead can conform themselves to the world rather than to the Truth. But the Truth will prevail. I read the Book. I know the ending.

[count-your-change]

Whether others have done better or worse isn't really the point. Nor is laziness or lack of it on the part of Catholics.

It's a matter of responsibility on the part of those charged with the duty to feed and protect the flock from wolves, to shepherd Christ's sheep.

And why, as I asked but wasn't answered, were these shepherds were left in place.