Clearly sexual abuse of minors and others is a problem in our culture and other’s.  The measure of how we respond to this serious problem is an indication of how morally mature we are as a society. We expect the Church to be an example of morality, not because it is perfect, but because it is called to perfection. 

To rationalize that the Church is no worse than society in regard to sexual abuse is to undermine its mission and let it off the hook for doing better. So when it fails miserably in its handling of the sexual abuse of minors it is a gross failing. The worst part of this scandal is the cover-up conducted by bishops over decades. This crisis was institutionalized whereas abuse of a minor by a relative, no less tragic to the victim, is a result one individual’s deplorable actions, not one committed repeatedly by an organization, the Church.  

There is nothing vengeful in holding the Church leader’s feet to the fire; apparently they were not able to do that themselves.