[Alex Murphy]

I'm not a 'Catholic basher' by any means but I simply do not understand how the laws, which are in virtually every US State, requiring ANYONE who knows about child sexual abuse to report it to the relevant authorities under pain of criminal punishment are not being applied to these people.

If ANYONE is aware of child sexual abuse in my State and they do no report it they're criminally liable.

Great question. Don't be surprised if you get castigated as being an official anti-Catholic bigot just for asking it.

[Lurker]

Here in IL you don't even have to have direct knowledge of it, just a 'reasonable suspicion' that abuse is taking place in order to be required to report it immediately to relevant authorities.

Instead of 'kicking' these people 'upstairs', and I say this on the assumption that these accusations are founded, they should be defrocked and summarily turned over to the authorities for prosecution.

I have absolutely no patience or sympathy for child abusers and I have even less for those who by action or inaction enable them.

None.

L