The Washington Post has a stroy in which the Vatican is quoted as saying "it would lead the fight against pedohilia (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/17/AR2007071700810.html?hpid=sec-religion):
VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican said Tuesday it would lead the fight against pedophilia, but said the problem was not limited to the Catholic Church and that other institutions should take responsibility. Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi spoke to Vatican Radio after the Los Angeles archdiocese reached a $660 million settlement with more than 500 alleged victims of clergy sex abuse, the largest-ever U.S. payout. Lombardi said the agreement "closed a painful page" and allowed the church to focus on creating a secure environment for young Catholics.
If the Vatican wanted to be taken seriously on this issue, both Benedict and his predecessor, John Paul II have had ample opportunity to show they were serious by requiring the mass resignation of every bishop and cardinal involved in the cover ups. In the USA, the Dallas Morning News several years ago estimated that roughly 2/3 of the U. S. bishops had particiapted at some level in cover up activities. See: http://www.bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/databases/DallasMorningNewsBishops.htm What did John Paul II or now Benedict do to clean house? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Until careers are ended and senior people removed from office, the Vatician's promises are merely, disingenuous lip service.
