I'd like to thank Joe for restarting this discussion and offer my apologies for my part in its previous downfall, which I promise was not intended.

Joe - these Bishops of whom you speak - is it possible that some of them may have been abusers and promoted from the priesthood as a way of preventing them? Could this have had a knock-on effect at higher levels over the years?

Interesting points about celibacy above, and I can see how it could easily be a contributory factor indirectly, but these particular priests were far from celibate - indeed noticeably less so than many of us who aren't.