Randy really hit on the point that I wanted to hit on - the fact that when these incidents are brought to the attention of the higher-ups of the Catholic church, and those higher-ups do nothing, I see this as akin to a corporate structure shredding its documents to hide to hide the proof of misconduct.
Go to the source. Charge the pope as if he's the head of a criminal organization. By adopting a structure, the Catholic church has made it easy to get the hands around the throat of the person in charge. Two or three criminal trials for the pope, and the Catholic church will get it's act cleaned up QUICK. Either the child molesters will be excommunicated quickly, or the church will open up about incidents of abuse...SOMETHING will happen. It always does when you can get your hands around the neck of the person in charge.
The fact that there's a problem doesn't surprise me. The reason I say that isn't because of "repressed sexual urges of the clergy," but because of the elevated status enjoyed by priests - essentially turning them into religious "rock stars." The difference is that their "groupies" are taught a different message about sex than the masses. Conduct that we'd accept from our traditional rock stars is COMPLETELY unacceptable from a priest.
Keep in mind this: most sexual abuse isn't about sex; it's about power and control. Any person placed in a position of authority has to maintain a difficult balance. Enjoy power and control a little too much, and you find out it's as addictive as any drug.
And that's why I think the Catholic church's hierarchy contributes to this problem. Catholics are taught to look up to priests, look up more to their bishops, more to their archbishops, more to the cardinals, and more to the pope. This could easily become an attractive live to a person who wants to accumulate power and influence.
I've watched people throw their friends away just to spend time playing on MUDs, all because they want to advance up in the hierarchy and need their time in order to make that happen. These are the kinds of people who attach themselves to the leaders of any group - wanting to "move up the ladder" - and willing to throw away anything or anyone once they are no longer useful...willing to discard one set of friends just to "trade up."
The only people who should ever be given power and control are those who can look at it the way a mechanic looks at a wrench...as a tool. Anyone who ignores it shouldn't be given it, because they waste it. Anyone who is willing to misuse it shouldn't be given it, because they abuse it. Anyone who yearns for it shouldn't be given it, because they will only use it for accumulating more of it. Only the person who looks at it realistically, and values it for what it is and nothing more.
The priesthood conveys with it power and control, as well as an advancement hierarchy. Follow the path of power and control - the trappings of man - rather than God, and small wonder you'll find some of the worst sinners on the planet. Christianity - in the way I was taught about it - is about SURRENDERING yourself to God...GIVING UP power and control...letting God direct your life instead of doing it yourself. And, to this day, that's *STILL* my biggest struggle as a Christian...that desire to say, "Hey, don't worry about this thing, God...I've got it under control. I can handle this one." And that's why I have trouble with Catholicism. It puts a chain-of-command - a FLAWED, HUMAN chain of command - between me and God. If God is everywhere, and knows everything, and is all-powerful, then I know for sure that he's not "too busy" for me. As his child, as his creation, I can go to him directly, like a son to his father. I don't have to go through the folks he's set up as my guides, my advisors, my teachers.
Get just a little out of focus, and you're pursing advancement rather than the higher calling of God. And that's what I think happens in the Catholic hierarchy.
