So if we accept that the Vatican was wrong in how it handled the sex abuse scandal by not punishing bishops, it follows that the Vatican should be silent and allow priests to advocate whatever they want?    Makes no logical sense.

And who in the Vatican hierarchy would have the moral authority to punish bishops who "enabled" bad priests?   Don't say the pope, because we already know that JPII bares as much blame for such "enabling" as any bishop.   Actually, more blame, since he was the boss and upheld the canon laws that detered clerical cooperation with law enforcement.