If the problem were *just* homoseuxality, then they wouldn't be going after younger boys. They'd be keeping it among themselves where they'd have willing, compliant partners who would be happy to keep their mouths shut and not risk getting caught.
The fact that they went after young teenaged boys indicates that the problem IS pedophilia.
And I agree with you that very likely the only reason they didn't have more kids under 12 is access.
Because in all honesty, a 12 year old can still be pretty much NOT sexually mature. Twelve is just the beginning of that phase in a child's life and while some kids have reached sexual maturity at that age, a great many have not but still more closely resemble children, not men.
That whole argument is just an attempt to downplay the seriousness of the issue by making it look not so bad.
IOW, damage control.
Since we know that this is NOT a new problem in the Roman Catholic church, do you think that perhaps the reason it is being exposed now is to teach Christians that they cannot depend upon "their" church to save them but that it is only in Jesus Christ that we trust? It's obvious to me (a former RC) that human institutions will ALWAYS be fragile and fail us and that is why the TRUE church of Christ is that Spiritual House St. Peter spoke about and of which all believers are living stones that build it up. My faith is in Jesus, not a church.