And what if the Church doesn't tell the police? Just let the abuse carry on until it does? Then not blame the Church? I'm sure the kids won't mind.

Institutions wouldn't exist without people belonging to them, without people drawing up the rules and protocols, without people constructing a hierarchy of responsibility. Last time I checked, there was nothing inanimate about people. Oh, and institutions evolve. The people change, the rules are changed and the hierarchy may move with the times (perhaps by being made more democratic, more accountable and by some of its functions being delegated, perhaps regionally as has been mentioned with regard to the Church). The apparent aim of the argument that it's not the institution, it's rotten apples, is to divert the blame away from an institution that is in severe danger of losing its reputation. I'm sure the kids won't mind that either.