atheism and children

[Catholic_Lady]

Yes, this. And it wasn't even everyone at the "top" who played a part in covering up, either. The actions of a few, should not represent the majority.

Oh, don't misunderstand me. I get all of that: frankly it's what I assumed from the outset. But that's why I was puzzled by your earlier response CL. To be more specific, when I used the phrase "Catholic Church" you seemed unclear whether I meant the "higher ups" or all Catholics in general; to me, it seemed obvious I meant those officials who can claim to act or speak on behalf of the institution itself.

I guess for me the next thing that needs clarification is who gets to decide when an official of the Catholic Church (priest, bishop, cardinal, pope, etc) is acting as an individual as opposed to representing the institution of the Church. For example, let's assume that a bishop speaks on behalf of all Catholics when he declares that IVF is an immoral act. Is he still speaking on behalf of all Catholics when he threatens excommunication to politicians who don't vote to make it illegal? Is he still speaking on behalf of all Catholics when he likens IVF to Nazi eugenics?

When Cardinal Ratzinger, before he became the pope, instructed bishops to first report to the Vatican (i.e. instead of the police) any allegations of child sexual abuse, was he acting as an individual? Or as a representative of the Church? And again, who gets to make those distinctions and how?

Anyone who is Catholic is representing the Catholic Church. How well they are representing the Church, is where the issue lies.  

The only thing that can be spoken on behalf of all Catholics as an official position of the Church, are matters of faith and morals. Also known as Church Doctrine. Only the pope can do this, and only when he is officially making an infallible pronouncement.