Pan,
Evil can be expected across all components of society. Where we may disagree (?) is what the proper response by the church is and should be when that evil comes from within the church.  

I think it not at ALL preposterous for one to make the logical leap you seem to decry. I cannot imagine ANY of the parents I know or have EVER known, to not be shaken to the core over this scandal. Just how long has this abuse been going on?  Why didn't it set off klaxon horns from the start? And above all, how could church leaders have hidden this, and done so little until caught?

It's become pretty clear that parents and family see children VERY differently from church leadership. Yeah, the acts of a hopefully few priests does place a huge burden on the good ones. That's NO reason not to move heaven and earth to protect kids FIRST. Even bishops now say go to secular law first.  Thats one hell of an admission of how far the church has fallen. Trust is shattered. Is it restorable? Why and how?