I was going to avoid this one, but it turns out I do have something to say. Here goes: I attended Catholic School in the 1970s in the US. My classmates were a diverse bunch, and I learned that we were all equal in the eyes of God. Outside of school, it was a different story. I frequently heard racist comments from adults, usually about 'mexicans' (anyone of hispanic origin) and how they were 'ruining' America. It never resonated with me because I learned and experienced the exact opposite at school. My teachers were Maryknoll Sisters, many of whom had served in Latin America, siding with the poorest of the poor against the (for all intents and purposes) fascist governments that ruled those nations in those years (with the support of the US government, I might add). That was my experience of the Catholic Church, and it was both formative and positive for me.

I offer no excuses and I have no sympathy for the guilty parties referenced by Jim in his opening post. But to equate a few criminals with the whole of the Catholic Church (or Christianity in general) is, I'm afraid, no different than blaming all Muslims for 9-11.