Joe, I'm in tune with your last post and the editorial you pasted into it. But there is one point that the editorial did not cover, and it touches on your suggestion that the trail might not have reached the Vatican. The bit that is missing is the letter urging secrecy (on pain of excommunication) that Ratzinger sent to all bishops worldwide in 2001. For me, that alone makes his position untenable. Here's the link again:

Confidential letter reveals Ratzinger ordered bishops to keep allegations secret

Incidentally the aloof Vatican response at the end of the article would just add fuel to the flames if they ran it again in the present climate.