I disagree. I think that we must grovel in shame that this happened and I think we should not make excuses for them, such as they did not know. If they didn't know there was something wrong for a long time in Ireland they are just too dumb to be in charge of anything. Same with America. Same with horrible problems in Newfoundland years ago. This is not new. Bishops in Mexico still don't want to cooperate with the police. There are huge problems in Africa, with nuns being abused by priests. I don't know about minors. I think that when we cry witch-hunt etc. we are colluding with the colluders and enablers. I think we are obliged to stand up against false accusations, and see that everyone has due process, but to defend the actions of the church, and to say they just knew for a couple of months, when they have paid out hundreds of millions of dollars over decades...what kind of fiscal responsibility is that, to say nothing of moral. You're a far better Catholic than I am but I think you are just plain wrong here. mg