For that, I have no understanding at all.

Understand is perhaps the wrong word and perhaps I'm wrong in this but I'd guess it was kept quiet "for the good of the college" as I'd guess "for the good of the church" was a factor in the catholic business. Institutions that become (let's say) "too holy" to be able to admit to or face up to the problem and (perhaps to be kind) very misguided loyalties.