Why was there a cover-up and why did bishops not report crimes and transfer priests to avoid detection by authorities?

Maybe this interview with Castrillon a Colombian cardinal — gives a glimps of the mindset of Bishops likely guided by the approach sanctioned by those in power in the Vatican?   

This cardinal — " an influential figure at the Vatican before his recent retirement from active duty, heading the Vatican's office for clergy as well as efforts to reconcile with ultraconservatives who had broken away from the church".

Notable segments:

"A senior cardinal defended the Roman Catholic Church's practice of frequently not reporting sexual abusive priests to the police, saying Thursday it would have been like testifying against a family member at trial".

"He would not give details, however, saying that "since I'm not stupid, I don't tell everything I know. Only drunks, children and idiots tell, and I'm not a child, nor a drunk, nor stupid."

"The law in nations with a well-developed judiciary does not force anyone to testify against a child, a father, against other people close to the suspect," Castrillon told RCN radio. "Why would they ask that of the church? That's the injustice. It's not about defending a pedophile, it's about defending the dignity and the human rights of a person, even the worst of criminals."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g0A3glgAtiRZsA0BEQLvoS9lTLVwD9F8FJ905