One thing we need to remember is that we are all the Church, and as the mystical body of Christ, the Church as a whole cannot sin. However, the men who are in positions of responsibility in the Church, as well as each individual member of the Church, can (and do - daily) sin. I think that our greatest scandal is the absolute lack of instruction that has gone on for years (decades) in our Church. The gates of Hell will not prevail against our Church, and She will continue on, but I fear that we are in for some shocks. We will be shaken, but I exhort those in the Church to remember that priests and bishops are humans, broken with sin and as frail as we are, who make mistakes. Even the pope sins (remember that his infallibility is in matters of faith and morality in the Church, just as God's Old Testament prophets were able to correctly discern God's will for His people).
We mustn't leave Christ's Church because of others' sins! Cling to Jesus, the center of our Faith, for He will sustain us through these turbulent times.
Yeah -- I meant to say "the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church," at least in the U.S. I think Dreher's comment hints that it's more than just Americans, though.
Re Post #89:
Well said!