Jim ~With respect [& I do really mean that], I think you are over-defining 'persecution' here. Those priests were not persecuting the children, they were abusing them. I am not trying to adjudge as to the greater or lesser iniquity between the two activities; but simply adducing this as an important distinction between two quite separate, tho both much-to-be-deplored, forms of misbehaviour. Priests who interfere sexually with children within their charge are guilty of 'abuse'; 'persecution' means oppressing or maltreating people, from a superior power-base, because of their ethnicity &/or their beliefs. Conflating these as you appear to me to be doing simply obfuscates, rather than clarifies, this important question.

~Michael~