The problem is that they just don't know how to respond because they live in fear. Many priests have lost the ability to empathize with sex abuse victims. If they show concern, they are afraid the local Bishop will admonish them or place them in a less than desirable Church location. Growing up in the 1950"s And early 1960"s as Catholic kids we were taught to fear everyone. We feared God. We feared the priests and the nuns. We feared our parents. We lived our lives in fear. Most priests live in constant fear. That kind of fear is just like the fear I lived as a child. I believe that is why most priests today are incapable of dealing with those of us who were abused.