The issue is that Church leaders have too long kept their heads in the sand and hoped the problem would go away - and now they're realizing that it won't go away as long as predators are allowed to roam around in the Church.
Being a pastor isn't about smiling and shaking hands and giving sermons. It's about defending the flock from the wolves. The Church's pastors have become fat and complacent, that's the problem.
They also haven't faced the REAL problem.
Homosexuality in the priesthood. The last five years has been an eyeopener for me. The church needs to clean house of active homosexuals.
Maybe. You might also consider that pastors first objective is to keep the parish financially sound (not necessarily morally sound). They want to be 'pastoral' which in their interpretation means don't rock any boats.
I wonder if this is just a problem in the Am-Church or are other countries affected. If is throughout the Church, then it reflects on JP II. Pope JP II is a good and holy man but seems to have let Church administration slip.
It didn't all start with this gay thing. Infrasturcture is in free fall - dissent is rampant, Catholic colleges are hardly that, annulments up, religious vocations are down, a blind eye to abortion first politicians, teaching dogma beliefs has vanished. But PR is up for hierarchy apologizing for history, condeming racism or getting some inter-faith face award recognition which places a premium on being politically correct.
So-called 'reform' has left the Church in shambles. What is needed now is counter-reformation. Open the windows again and let the stink out.