So, as long as the rest of the world can get away with hiding child sex abuse then so should the Catholic Church?

THAT is what you call leadership?  What it really sounds like is some spoiled child who wants to set fire to cats because the brat saw other kids do it and IT'S NOT FAIR if his parents stop him when other parents didn't stop the other kids.

It is childish and cowardly to hide behind "other people do it" and "it's not fair."  Did you get away with that with your parents when you were a kid?  Did you allow your children to get away with that?  Did you weigh your own child's behavior by judging it on what other kids were allowed or did you have a standard to teach your kids what is moral?

What do you think the bishops are teaching people with their attitude of "I don't have to if others don't have to?"  They are saying this isn't about moral behavior or that moral behavior is defined by law and until the law decides it isn't immoral.  They have abdicated moral leadership.