Emmett, I do not believe that abuse was covered up because the Church needed priests and the numbers were falling. Ratzinger showed time and again that he simply didn't care about priests numbers (or numbers of Catholics, for that matter.) He was quite happy with a "smaller, purer" (blond haired, blue eyed!) Church.

Orthodox, conservative, clerical yes men - in you come.
Thinking, questioning, mature adults - no entry.

That was his mantra and he was found out in the end. Do you ever notice why none of his friends on here ever discuss abuse? Or if they do, they divert the conversation to abortion? 

They know. And it holes every position they take deep beneath the water line.