Curiously, the sexual abuse in public schools goes virtually unnoticed by the press or by writers, partly because there’s no money in it.
A study in New York City found that something like 1/3 of the substitute teachers and about 20% of the permanent teachers had been charged with and in fact usually convicted of sexual crimes against children. Because of union pressure, many of these teachers were kept on the job while charges were pending (and it was the child victims who were sent elsewhere!) or, if it was really too hot to handle or more than the first offense, they were sent to warm a desk at 110 Livingstone Street, Bd of Ed headquarters, where they received their full salary. Even if they were dismissed, it was often with all or part of their salary for a number of years.
Furthermore, the city never bothered to examine the background of applicants, many of whom had recent records for sexual abuse of minors.
New York was certainly not the only city, and I have read that the national statistics for sexual abuse in public schools or charter schools run by small political or religious groups are higher than those for Catholic schools. But again, lawyers and writers go where the deep pockets are.
Essentially, the Catholic bishops behaved no differently from the public school administrators, who relied on “counseling” at full pay, intimidation of the victims, etc. to deal with the problem. That is a terrible failing, and it is probably also true that there are a couple of lavender bishops out there who have protected gay priests and are still doing so. It’s not excusable, but you have to wonder why the press is not paying a little more attention to the (male and female) child molesters who seem to plague the public school system, particularly since far more children are in public school and hence at risk. If they were really concerned about the kids, they would look at the public schools.
But, But... Are you COMPARING the two?... Are you comparing, therefore expecting equivalent results from pratically an immoral PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM and its 'administrators' with the *** HOLY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ****?... Inverntors and sole administrators of "morality" and "sainthood" for millions of souls in the entire universe? :)...
That is like talking about a "pinto" (car) and a Rolls Royce in the same breath. Kidding but I hope you see my point :)