""participation in the Catholic Church is voluntary""

Most likely this was not the case for the far too many children who were offered up and molested throughout the years. Their parents did so in trust and with confidence that they were safe, and that this Christian-based church would enrich their lives. Unfortunately, this trust was violated again and again over the years. I suspect many parents ignored all the clues, and were blinded with the long-held belief that people they trusted fully, those in decision making positions of authority, could do no wrong.