I think the real problem is that with such a shortage of priests, candidates are not being properly vetted to weed out those who have the mental problems that lead to abuse.
You wrote:
“I think the real problem is that with such a shortage of priests, candidates are not being properly vetted to weed out those who have the mental problems that lead to abuse.”
The priests, however, who were the worst abusers were ordained in the 1960s and 1970s. There wasn’t a shortage then. Also, at least some seminaries were taken over by the velvet mafia at that time and they DELIBERATELY recruited homosexuals. So, maybe some losers got in in the 80s because of a shortage but most of the abusers were already in the priesthood by that time.