When I was young (and I believe things haven't changed much) molestation of children happened in the Southern Baptist church I grew up in. I don't think these predators attach themselves to any particular religion. They simply look for places where they may be placed in a position which facilitates access to their prey.

In the last decade, the culture of silence by the victims is breaking. As more come forward in every place whether it be church, school, scout group, etc., then the culture of silence and cover up that protects the predators will also weaken.

It is perhaps that children/adults abused by catholic priests are more inclined to come forward because there have been a number of previous public revelations. I am also inclined to think that southern baptists are more controlled by fear of being rejected by their group. It was almost cultish / slavish dedication to the church in my experience. We are probably more brain washed at the young adult age than Catholic children. Couple that with the lesson that God only puts on a person as much as s/he can cope with and you get the feeling that this is part of God's plan and you just have to take it and God will help you through.

It is also my opinion for what it is worth that if you do the crime you must suffer the penalties of state and no organisation should be able to protect you. How the Catholic church is allowed to deal with such abuses in house is beyond me.

The offending priest must be given over to the courts immediately. There is nothing stopping the church from ministering to their fallen while they are under state correction.