Mayomick, I think Catholics feel, or felt, that same sense of loyalty as well. It makes 'religious' abusers that bit more powerful, and I'm sure they know that and use it to their advantage.

The real scandal is that the abusers look like getting away with their revolting crimes, anonymously and free from prosecution, and most of the compensation will be paid by the Irish taxpayer, not the Catholic Church who are both complicit and ultimately responsible. If it was any other organisation there would be a very different story; they'd be put out of business and the offenders would be jailed.

One in twenty four abusive priests (and that's only the priests) is maybe an understatement, but if we were discussing a disease that had infected a twenty fourth of the population, it would be regarded as a serious epidemic. Child abuse can be passed on to the victim; in a sense it could be said to be contagious. The Catholic Church has proved itself to be, at best, irresponsible and not worthy of trust.

Publicity is the only weapon against corruption of such magnitude.