Most of the newer bishops are more conservative, and have inherited the corruption of these weak liberal bishops.
If he put his foot down, they would defy him, like the German bishops did. And the ultimate result would be a schism.
Indeed, the liberals in the US and Europe are hoping he will die so they can put their guy in charge, and change the Catholic church into a PC church like the American episcopal church. The remnant might welcome this as a way to get our own church back from the corrupters, but those of us in liberal diocese might have no where to go to church (unles there is a Byzantine church nearby)
It's a no win situation. Most of these cases in the past were settled in civil court, because it was easier for the victim and for the church. And one only has to see how the PC press lauds gay teachers and child sex manuals and child porn to see why the church got bad advice from the psychiatrists whotreated these priests, and told the bishops it was okay to put them back to work.
Let's get it over with. Those Catholics who think the Episcopalians took the right path with priestesses and birth control should follow their consciences and leave. Bishops included.