This is pedophilia, pure and simple. It's not a gray area nor is it petty rumors -- its criminial and abusive and an abuse of power. I live in Boston and have been watching this unfold from within for many years (I have a very, very good friend who works for the Archdiocese, first working for Law now O'Malley, both cut from the same cloth as the pope). What the pope, the Vatican and the other neo-Catholics have been saying about priest abuse that does NOT include criminial prosecution, defrocking and massive apologies to the victims is inexcusable. This is THE worst pope that could ever have been elected (or bought the seat) during this time.

The friend I mention above said that one of the older priests she works with (a really nice guy, he is someone who is well respected AND not an abuser), likened the current Vatican regime to La Costra Nosa. I don't think he's that far off the mark.