""Oh, I'm quite aware that many victims don't report crimes against children. But if it was reported to the church, why not to the police?""

Because they were too scared of the church to demur when told "Don't tell anyone else. Leave it to us. We'll deal with it".

Joe, In the USA you may never have experienced what is meant in Ireland by the phrase "Fear of God". It was very real, and it extended to an equally real fear of the priests.

Don T.