Scouser; you completely understate the position that the church played in Irish society up to comparatively recently, rather nicely summed up in a letter in today's Irish Times; "The Catholic church is so engrained into every facet of Irish life that any move against it feels like a move against yourself".
It was absolutely inconceivable that 'men of god' could commit such horrendous crimes, and anybody suggesting such ran the risk of eternal damnation (as well as all the other penalties that makin such a heretical statement brought with it).
"....as long as they thought their own children were OK."
Now that really is insultingly outrageous. The letter from the Australian abuse victim describes perfectly what any parent's response would have been when told her what was happening - he obviously wasn't OK.
If they were "only men", they managed to convince the general populace that they had 'God on their side' - I saw it first hand in members of my own family over here - the priest could do no wrong'.
In the end it comes down to this; within the protection of the church existed an extremely successful peodophile ring, so successful that it was provided with an infallable escape route and a means whereby it could continue in business, thanks to the co-operation of the church officers.
If you believe that people in general here knew this, I suggest you talk to Irish people in my age group and earlier who were around at the time - but wear a crash helmet.
Sorry - you are blaming the population as a whole, including the victims.
Jim Carroll