One big problem is that the Church went along with the tenor of the times and dealt with the abuser in the way suggested by the 'experts', and sent them out to be 'healed', listened to the folks who said they were ready to go back to ministry, then let them back in. Unfortunately, some places had a revolving door policy, and the same people kept going in and out of these places. They should have restricted their ministries after the first rumors proved true, then if convicted, laicized them. It would have saved a lot of grief on the part of subsequent victims. The Bishops were too busy Pastoring the abusers and not the victims.
What is not mentioned in some of these instances, though, is that when the abuse first took place, and the priest was suspected, the parents of the victim didn't press charges. The victims, now grown are coming forward, and the people in charge of the Dioceses now have no idea what went on those many years ago.
It has been a mess all around, but if you'll notice, most of these cases took place in the 70's or at the latest in the 80's. The climate has now changed. The mental health community now understands that pedophiles cannot be rehabilitated, and seminaries are beginning to understand that they are not doing someone who has a homosexual inclination any good by letting him enter the priesthood, no matter how much he thinks he's 'called'.
Sorry it took me a while to respond.
I appreciate your explanations but I am still not convinced. It is very difficult for me to give the CC a free pass on this one. If a sex offender comes out of prison and does what some of these priest did, that would be OK! Meaning, that would be highly expected and even logical since many of them come out of prison worse than when they went in. Killer kill again, rapers, robbers keep doint it.
But when a priest uses his position of authority and trust and like a cold snake, slowly approaches his pray, waits still for the chance to strike, (yes, I see it this ugly), it just INFURIATES me!... etc, etc, etc, etc.........
I still could say a lot more about how I feel about this but I will not for the time being. I do realize many of you have great respect for this pope and considering he is struggling for his life and out of respect for eveyone, I will shup up for now.
I confess I am not an 'authority' in the way the church is run (the nuts and bolts). I have no idea how much does the pope know about the problems on a given country or continent. I don't know who works for him or keeps him informed on issues... well, just like I said, I will cease for now.
I would like to know more about it. If anyone can recomend books, or articles, relating to this particular issue, I would appreciate it.