Remember, MOST of the priests involved in the scandals were homosexual priests preying on teen-age, post-pubescent boys. They are not pedophiles preying on little boys and girls. The problem was permissiveness in some seminaries, and outright condoning the homosexual lifestyle. But all of that is contradictory to the teaching of the Church.
When the laity throw in the towel and leave the church because of human sin, they are really turning their back on Jesus Christ. Because as a Catholic, we believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and we believe that our suffering -- and the suffering of the Church -- can be united with the suffering of Jesus on the Cross, ultimately bring us closer to God in faith.
Anyway, that's my opinion. I am becoming more grounded in my faith as I pray and combat the secularism of some Catholics, but I know many, many Catholics who are devout and live as best they can in the way of the Church. I openly talk in my parish even among parishioners who I know are not in agreement with the teachings about being pro-life, the evils of contraception, the evil of divorce and remarriage, the importance of following the teachings of the church. It's up to us. And there are many, many good priests who help as well. Not all of them have fallen so horribly.
God bless.