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[Faithful Departed author Philip] Lawler points out that while less than five percent of American priests have been accused of sexual abuse, some two-thirds of our bishops were apparently complicit in cover-ups. The real scandal isn't the sick excesses of a few dozen pedophiles, or even the hundreds of priests who had affairs with teenage boys -- the bulk of abuse cases. No, according to Lawler, it is the malfeasance of wealthy, powerful, and evidently worldly men who fill the thrones -- but not the shoes -- of the apostles. In case after case, we read in their correspondence, in the records of their soulless, bureaucratic responses to victims of psychic torture and spiritual betrayal, these bishops' prime concern was to save the infrastructure, the bricks and mortar and mortgages. Ironically, their lack of a supernatural concern for souls is precisely what cost them so much money in the end.
-- from the thread Kneeling Before the World"The Dublin Archdiocese's preoccupations in dealing with cases of child sexual abuse, at least until the mid-1990s, were the maintenance of secrecy, the avoidance of scandal, the protection of the reputation of the church and the preservation of its assets," said the report. "All other considerations, including the welfare of children and justice for victims, were subordinated to these priorities. The archdiocese did not implement its own canon law rules and did its best to avoid any application of the law of the state"....
-- from the thread Pope calls Irish church leaders to Vatican to discuss abuse report
The Church has always taught that men with homosexual tendencies should not be ordained or even admitted to the seminary. And those caught flagrante delicto should be removed from public ministry and placed in a monastery for penance and prayer.
But there has always been an effort by homosexuals to infiltrate the priesthood, because (like other positions such as teacher, scout leader, youth minister) it carries an aura of trust and permits access to children. And in the swingin' sixties and seventies, the "lavender mafia" succeeded in gaining control of some dioceses and seminaries, with predictable results.
The bishops responsible tended to be heterodox "modern" bishops who thought doctrines of sin were old-fashioned and outmoded, and that seminaries were "too strict". In addition, in their defense, the psychiatrists at the time thought that ephebophilia and homosexual tendencies could be "cured" and assured the bishops that the priests in question could be returned to ministry. And of course, medical issues are generally kept confidential by employers. Plus, there's that presumption of innocence thing.
Thankfully, in the U.S. at least the bishops have taken a very proactive stance toward cleaning up the mess. Almost all the ordinaries in question have been retired or removed and replaced with solid bishops.
Of course, the news media and the usual suspects continue to beat up the Church as though nothing has changed since 1960.
LOL.