I think the responses here have been fair, and deserved, Joe.
You say "There is no doubt in my mind that the molestation and abuse of children was a horrible thing."
Now there's a word in there you cannot vouch for, and that's the word "WAS" It IS an horrible thing, and I bet you a pound to a pinch of snuff that it's not gone away, nor will it. They either need to allow priests to marry, or not allow them to be alone with vulnerable people, children OR adults.
As for that "horrible thing" part, I find that a mild condemnation. It's more than horrible, it's disgusting, it's depraved, and it's illegal. As for the attempts of the church hierarchy to keep it "in house", words fail me.
Sorry Joe, I'm not anti Catholic, if anything I may be anti religion, but I would never deprive a believer of his or her the comfort, that their faith gives them.
However, this fiasco, will do far more to disillusion the faithful than I could, and I think, that in a way, this is why they cover it up.
I believe there was a a little local difficulty when the Bible was first printed in English, as those in power didn't want the common herd to be able to understand the word of God. Well I think we may have a similar thing going, with the desire to suppress, and deny, the truth about the bad apples in the holy Catholic barrel now.
They're only the common people, no need for them to know about this matter!!