One of the fundamental problems in tackling an issue like this is the question of chain-of-command.

The classic defence mechanism - for example, when a priest refuses to help the police with information given to them in the confessional - is that "we answer to a higher authority".

Attempting to address priestly paedophilia using a secular toolset to make Catholics accountable to life-on-earth, as opposed to life-after-death, will inevitably fail against this universal stonewall.

Add to this the fact that religions are also given a privileged position in society by government, change becomes impossible to impose from the outside.

It can only come from within.

And frankly, given where they come from, and what they have to do to get where they are, I can't see any Pope having the moral courage to do anything except "express concern".

'Cos that what it would need, to make a real difference.

Moral courage.

I certainly support the point that celibasy in the clergy has not been healthy, but please wound not it be natural in that case for clergy to have affairs. Paedophilia is a mental illness, it infects all social networks that are involved with children. The common problem is that all of these churches, schools or associated organisations all have a history of cover up. they do not want to face that it is happening in their organisation and then have to deal with the fall out. This is a whole community issue that needs to be faced head on. As a society we are at a cross roads as to the true moral values we have, churches claim the high moral ground but then deny the decay that lives within their own communities. This problem stands over how we as parents view our children and what we consider the right way to bring them up. My children aged 9 and 10, have never stayed with anyone except their grandparents. I have to trust their school but always watch. Though this may seem protective i would not have them suffer the pain and total destruction of person that their mother suffered as a child. Anyone who has suffered as a victim of abuse or tried to deal with the out come of an abused partner will know the total destruction it has on a persons life. Some can find the strength to over come it but for others their whole life will be affected. Whether this is an increasing problem or just that we are more aware of the problem I don't care. It is time to act and the best action is that of parents. Do not trust people just because they are a church, child care or any other organisation that works with children. Stop palming them off so that your career or social life is better and then complain that the government did not do enough or the church deceived you. They are your children protect them.

I do not think the Catholic Church in its present form can be saved.
Remember these claims have been around for a very long time.
Even here heads of this church have been said to cover up these acts.
Satan if he existed would be proud of some within this church.
However we all must not forget it is not just Catholics or their church that victim's children.
Pedophilia exists in all walks of live all classes.
We nearly always ignore sub teenage girls dressed in full make up and sex like poses as mums and dads steal children's childhood.
Grown men and women buying magazines having such photos as porn not the intended fashion.
As each generation grows up, gets courage to tell of the infamous things adults inflict on them we get evidence that we continue to fail.
That pedophilia is happening still like the Catholic Church humanity has not yet made an effort to protect our kids.
No guilty person should ever walk our streets again

suzeonline,

Yes, the individuals in the Christian Churches, notably the Catholic Church must be held into account. As you might recall from old posts, I am a skeptic too. Yet, that is not fully the point. Were I a believer, I would still want the heads of the bishops and priests involved. It seems now more so than in the past priests are de-frocked and the underlings in the Church sometimes are gaoled (if found out). Yet, those whom cover-up are not pursued by the political powers and the police. The Bishops who transfer the priests are neveer prosecuted after the fact for hindering and obstructing the natural course of justice. (Maybe, that is not quite true. I think a past Bishop of Boston was sought by US police, only to flee to the Vatican to be protected by the Pope and the Church hierarchy.)

No loving god or secular society can counterance over-ups upon cover-ups upon cover-ups. Forget separation of Church and State, there is a need put the Church in thesecular dock, ASAP. If cardinals and bishops deserve to share residence with secular murders and rapists, so be it.

Perhaps, Kevin Rudd, should recall Tim Fisher, for instructions to direct the Pope that Australia's position is that even the most senior clergy must be put on secular trial for enacted paedophilia or providing support to these perverts. If Benedict is involved maybe, we should close our embassy, while he remains Pope.

What bugs me too are the Christians (good people), who attend church each Sunday, don't get hard into the faces of their Bishops and local priests about this significant issue, which does not go away. Herein, if Christians are Christians, it is a puzzlement, as to why these faithful people follow candestine Christian leaders, considering the latter all too often act, as a self-servicing super-cliche.

If any OLO reader is a Catholic: Why not protest by not attending mass en-mass one Sunday? Declare the date of a Postest Sunday and perhaps a month of making no donations to the Church.

I was impressed with Father Doyle's candor.

Pericles,

With regards the widespread paedophilia and cover-ups in the Catholic Church surely the time has come where secular law must trump ecumenical law. Perhaps, judicial respect for Sanctity of the Confessional should stop with priests hearing each others’ confessions. Besides, if the Pope sanctioned it, mandatory penance could be the clerical sinner must hand himself into the secular authorities, stop. Relatedly, the practise of making confession started generations after Jesus died, when early Christians had their confessions heard by their fellows doomed to Martyrdom. Confession is the doctrine of a Church, not a teaching of Jesus.

The other reason why change is unlikely to come from within is that incumbent Popes stack the deck, by appointing cardinals like themselves, perpetuating the System. They line-up all the ducks, before they die. hite smoke or black smoke; this cardinal or that cardinal; JPII set things up knowing his consrevatism would continue.

Will check back in few days. Busy.

Thanks for all the thoughts on this subject so far.
I agree that it should be the secular law makers who should be investigating this whole stinking mess that the Catholic church has long got itself into.

I personally know of several recent Catholic faithful who have left the Church because of this very issue Oliver, so I know that Catholics are upset and confused over the continued cover-up by the Catholic hierarchy.

If some Bishops or Priests have heard the confessions of other Clergy about their present or past dealings in Child sexual abuse issues, then I believe they should be made to name the perpetrators under secular law.

These men should not be 'absolved' of sexual abuse 'sins' merely because they say their acts of contrition and several Hail Mary prayers!
They should be in jail with the other paedophiles.