I have read and re read this thread, and having been a practising catholic for almost 67 years I have to admit to having serious doubts as to the how the church is governed . There can be no excuse whatever for the abuse of children either within the church or outside and the perpertrators of such actions should be brought to account regardless of their position.
However, it is easy to forget about the vast amount of good works being done at grass roots level in the church both by clergy and laity. The actions of the perverted few must not be allowed to obscure this.
Overall, my thinking has come around to believeing that the original message of Christ was a very simple one of love and respect for ones neighbour, and that this has become obscured over time by pomp and ceremony - a Pharisitacal approach? - which is exactly what Jesus preached against. He also said that anyone who abused children should have a mill stone tied around their neck and they been thrown into the sea.