Your post is exactly correct.  If Holy Mother Church wants to allow predators to be priests, protect them from being caught and move them from one hunting ground to another, that is completely within the power of the One True Church, just as it has the power to censure or remove priests who say or do things contrary to the Church's Rules.  Some might call into question the moral authority of an institution that aided and abetted predators to prey upon the flock, some might even say it goes against the very teachings Jesus, from whom the Church claims Authority.  But, the Church is not a democracy and it is infallible and sovereign, so it can punish whom it wishes, and protect criminals if it sees fit, and its moral authority cannot be doubted because Jesus died on the Cross to establish the Institution and give it full power to do as It wishes.  All True Catholics must accept this, or else doubt the validity of the Sainthood of Our Holy Father John Paul II the Great.