However, my feeling is that with Catholicism being as organised as it is, you're going to get a lot of press coverage connecting the cases. But since other denominations (who also practice in child sexual abuse) are not as organised and connected, the coverage/information is not broadcasted like these scandals have been.
I fully understand what you are saying here soledad and definitely agree. It is much easier to follow the moves a priest makes because of the way the church is set up than with other ministers who can move from state to state and not have their past followed as closely.

I was raised Catholic and while I was disgusted by what happened, I also felt that some of those guys were getting a bum rap from kids who, for one reason or another, had it in for them.
I also agree with Mugsy on this one. I worked as a secretary for a Catholic Parish for 16 years and I know personally of a case where a young man is falsely accusing a priest of abuse. This young man gave into temptation when he was 19 and while the priest involved was inappropriate, you cannot call a man who is involved in this type of case a pedophile. Because the diocese would not deal with it as a child abuse case, the young man's story has changed in the last 6 months that the touching started when he was 16 with the actual abuse happening when he was 19.

Having worked in a parish that has 3 priests in residence at a time and often a seminarian too, I have worked with many type of priests. They are men with all the flaws we all have. Some are good, some are not. A couple of them are the closest friends I have - that I can share anything with and not be judged. It is so easy to blame the church when one man hurts you. I know from personal experience because after working for the church for 16 years a pastor that we have had only two years decided to eliminate my job without any true reason other than to save money so our parish could build the largest church with the finest materials in the diocese. For a while, I thought about leaving the church and it is still almost impossible to be at a mass where he is celebrating. But because our priests to keep a schedule and we have 6 Masses a weekend at our churches, we can work it out that I don't have to have him at a Mass. Or we can go out of town to a Mass.

As far as how the Church as a whole has handled it, it is a shame that so much was covered up. And yet I think we also have to think about how sexual abuse within families, within other organizations was handled, 20, 30, 40 years ago. It wasn't talked about, it was covered up by family members, sometimes even the victum was blamed for its happening. It was wrong no doubt about it but society did not know how to handle such things back then. I don't think even today most people do not realize that pedophiles can not be rehabilitated. They must be kept away from young children. It is like drink to an alcoholic, etc. etc. The temptation, the draw is too great.

We must protect our children and keep these people away from our children but it is up to God to judge them. If a member of our family killed or abused someone we would not want others to avoid us or question whether we would do the same. Don't judge all priests by the sins of some. Give them all a chance.