I would like to interject something here that may clear up some of your confusion, boatbums. Panzer is ultimately right in that Cutie was forced to resign, however, as I recall, that isn’t all that happened.
When his adultery was discovered, IIRC, he was asked to end the relationship by his local bishop, and to report to a retreat house of some sort, whereas afterward, he would/could/might be reassigned to another post. Sound familiar?
It should, because this is how the pedarist priests were handled as well, so there is no inconsistency in that regard. It’s a shame that at least Cutie has enough “guts” (for lack of a better term) to say, “I’m not going to stop seeing this woman”, (and for that, fir disobeying his bishop, he was forced out), but the majority of the pedarist priests didn’t have the temerity, or at least honesty, to admit the same about themselves.
Also, if I may point out, when viewed in this way, the abuse scandal can be seen for what it truly was: not a conspiracy of coverup, but a (yes severely misguided) attempt to rehabilitate the abusers.
This is offered as a clarification of your post here. Indeed, I submit, if one views the facts objectively, one can only make the conclusion I make above. If you do not wish to do this, I cannot stop you, or anyone, from looking for and finding “conspiracies” under every rock you look, but nite this, I will not debate this.
Thus, the last response in this regard is yours, but please do not take my silence or silence in general from any Catholic as “proof” of some “conspiracy”. Speaking for myself I’m tired if pointing out the obvious above and see no reason to debate it any more. I simply post this for objective digestion and analysis.
I appreciate your attempt to clear things up. I just have a real problem comparing adulterous adults engaging in their sin and criminal adults victimizing children as equal. It's fine and good for the leadership of the Catholic Church to seek to discipline their clergy in hopes of repentance and restoration. That is a clearly Biblical mandate. But when it is CRIMINAL child sex abuse and the guilty party is disciplined "in house" without notifying authorities - even secreting away the abuser so that criminal charges could not be brought - that cannot be a strictly church internal affair any longer.
So, I am sorry I cannot agree with you that there was not a cover-up or conspiracy since I think it has been proved to be exactly that. The multi-BILLION dollar settlements prove it. The re-offending priests and bishops moved to other parishes to repeat their crimes proves it. The recent criminal trials of clergy involved with child rape in Pennsylvania proves it. The clergy sex abuse problems in Ireland, Belgium, Germany, etc. proves it. I really could go on, but I think my point has been made. I'm not trying to rub it in.
I fully understand the mindset of a Catholic who has been taught all his life that the Catholic Church is THE church Christ founded and that the Pope is the divinely appointed heir to the seat of St. Peter and that the Magesterium together with the Pope have a God-given authority to proclaim doctrine and dogmas that MUST be believed in order to be a "Christian". I understand the deep need to believe that such a hierarchy is infallible, without fault, unable to ever make a mistake and set up to be THE guide to eternal life. I understand it, but I do not agree with it.
I fully understand your claim to having addressing the issue and being tired of "pointing out the obvious". Well, it may be obvious to you, but I think it is akin to putting ones head in the sand. I know it is very difficult and nearly impossible to confront the truth of what is going on and to admit that it has been going on for a long, long time. Putting our trust in fallen humans and human institutions is opening ourselves up to just such disillusionment. Only in Christ is our trust safe. Only in the Lord is our salvation.