Wanting some feedback from the atheists

[pocaracas]

Sorry to wade in BUT it's not just a question of 'Percentages'.

The other factors are;

The amount of years, nay decades that said practices have been on going.

Nay, centuries!

That pretty much the entire hierarchy knew about the events unfolding.

Or were a part of them...

That said hierarchy simply moved problem individuals such as to hide any consequences or blame.

Perhaps they thought it was their form of punishment... a punishment, by our standards, that was very low on actual punishing features.

That when said claims did surface, the hierarchy fought more to protect itself and its image than appoint or investgate such to adress the issue.

If it was an issue that was well known to them, why should they investigate?
According to them, like you said, they had already taken action to force the "problem individuals" from being near the particular temptations that they were with.

That the church of Rome (Not sure how bad things are/were with the English protestants or other groups) hasn't collapsed due to patronage leaving the editice in droves shows just how much the 'Average Joe' has invested in said "Needs" that such behaviour is 'Appologized away'.

From every catholic person I've ever talked about this (perhaps 3 persons), there has only been disgust at the thought that there are such priests. Granted that my own experience is anecdotal, at best, but it does not mirror your words.

Sorry for comming across as a rant but.... geeze.

I'm just pointing out that these problems exist for any human group.
Sure, there are groups that claim to be irreproachable and, when any "problem" arises in them, it is a very serious flaw that should be addressed and stomped out.
It is indeed an issue that the hierarchy has appeared to be mostly quiet about this subject, but maybe it is their strategy and we're not seeing the long term goal, there... I wish I knew.