No one is defending pedophiles.  

Shanley abused children.  Cardinal Law covered it up, transferred him, etc.  It would have been nice to see Law in prison too--rather than given a cushy job in Rome.  

I think the concern is that innocent priests can be accused and their rights trampled in people's haste to protect children.  Protecting children is a very good thing.  We cannot, however, trample a person's rights in order to protect children.  The climate is such, now, that when a priest is accused of child abuse, they are guilty until proven innocent. It isn't the accuser that has the burden of proof but the priest who has to prove that he did not abuse the person.