You are right. I've made a similar point under today's article relating to the Australian commission.

I don't think that Bishop Bill Morris - who was more or less forcibly ejected by Benedict XVI from his diocese (Toowoomba) in 2011 - would agree that the Church is "alarmingly decentralised". Morris felt the full, immediate and rapid force of 'head office'.
Morris had stepped out of line, by asking for a discussion of priestly celibacy and women priests. He had also taken generous steps to compensate the victims of clerical sex abuse.
So in this situation, the Church allowed its bishop no independence, and it took drastic central action, to remove Morris.
But when it comes to clerical abusers, or to suggestions of 'cover up' - it seems to be a different story. Here, the parishes and bishops and Rome can play a game of 'pass the parcel', as to where responsibility (if any) lies. And bishops can trot out the odd excuse that their priests are not to be thought of as employees.