It seems to me when we look objectively at the facts on the Catholic Sex abuse scandal, the Church has clearly gotten things right and wrong. 
(i)Things Right
The massive overhaul of screening and safety prevention measures to prevent these crimes from happening again. We see this for instance with the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops Charter for the Protection of the Child in 2002, followed by the rigorous screening of as many as 5 million by 2008 according to stats. Pope Francis has tried to internationalize that model with his commission
(ii)Things Wrong
A failure to prosecute. Bishops, priests and Cardinals have not been held accountable. This includes Cardinal Bernard Law who as far as I am concerned should be in prison. 

So they have gotten the overhaul part correct in terms of the rigorous screening process. But they've done an abismal job at prosecuting and holding people accountable.