If ever there was an example of situational ethics or "cafeteria Catholicism" it is seen in how some "conservative brethren" and, to be honest some on the progressive side, pick and choose when mercy is to be applied...to be conditional...to be ignored...or to be mocked. 

"Mercy is not looking the other way from sin...... BUT THAT BEING SAID (followed by an unconditional, fawning defense of St. Pope John Paul's moral leadership and management)" is frequent from those who decry Pope Francis's talk of mercy and of Mercy in an other sectionj of the cafeteria.  

There really WAS/IS an ends-justifies-means rationale used in defense of JP II's non-handling of Fr. Marciel. Am I wrong? 

I was taught that "intentional ignorance" is sinful, and the strategic "avoidance of scandal" is the most un-Christian cover-up motivation of all. 

But we do have to ask, is "at-any-cost avoidance of clerical scandal" an OK CATHOLIC motivation for giving a "holy" rationale for painting over rust?