As Vlad already noted, many of those priests have already been laicized. But, each time this question surfaces, I often wonder why more people are not outraged and concerned about the child molesters who will continue unabated.
Sexual abuse of minors by Protestant ministers
And then there are the rabbis and imams, the public school educators, camp counselors and those who work with the disabled and handicaped.
No one could ever justify these horrific acts commited by priests. The media came at the Catholic Church like a laser beam and continue to do so, despite the fact that the Catholic Church has implemented a program to prevent future recurrences. EVERYONE who comes in contact with children in a Catholic setting, must undergo a scrupulous background check and be fingerprinted - even those who volunteer their time to educate these children in their faith. What is society doing about the others? Why doesn't the media address those molesters who are still rampant and active amongst our children?
The Bible states that these things will come to pass. Moral decay IS happening and it will lead to a day of reckoning. However, the CC did it's self no favors by trying (so publically) to buy off the victims and hide the truth for so long. Being a rich and powerful influence on such a large number of individuals made the CC an obvious target for the secular, Leftist media crowd.
Well said.