MSW:  "Indeed, he commended Benedict for something I agree he does not get enough credit for: forcing the church to confront the scourge of clergy sex abuse."

These "accomplishments" Lombardi attributes to BXVI regarding handling the child sex abuse occurring all over the world, are only accomplishments seen through a veil that shrouds reality. There is still no transparency. There is still no accountability of abusing priests and certainly no accountability for the cover-up by bishops, heads of religious orders.  There is still no restorative justice for victims and their families.

BXVI did no "forcing the church to confront the scourge of clergy sex abuse."  The "forcing" came from exposure in the press and the creation of a scandal.  BXVI did the minimum he had to do (and that poorly), giving direction to bishops frozen in Canon Law and papal secrecy.  

Sure, BXVI did more that JPII - but doing anything compared to the nothing JPII did is the only thing that makes BXVI look good.