Everyone can be forgiven if he or she truly repents. But forgiveness doesn’t require pretending that the sin never happened in the first place or covered up.....
A remorseful embezzler who has gone to prison and paid his debt to society is entitled to be forgiven and received into the community as a penitent. But he is not entitled to the expectation that he can resume his job as company treasurer. The nature of his sin, or rather, his crime, means that he has forfeited certain opportunities.
Showering these Priests with a cheap grace, and Bishops who have protected their criminal behavior, then letting them return to their previous life in one form or another under the protection of church leadership stinks to high heaven, and serves to teach lots of lessons, but NOT in forgiveness.
Ironic that non-Catholics are the ones who are accused of *cheap grace*.
That finger pointing thing again.