"A spokesman for the Newark archdiocese told NJ Advance Media last week the Vatican ruled that church law, known as canon law, prevented Gugliotta from being punished for something he might have done as a layman."

That's the problem in a nutshell. The Church still thinks of this as a matter of "punishing" priests rather than protecting children. The rights of clergy are the only thing that matter. The idea of keeping a dangerous person away from future victims doesn't even enter into the equation.

This is also the inevitable consequence of treating child abuse as a moral failing rather than as a crime. We can't say this often enough or loudly enough. When priests break the law of the land they should be removed from active ministry and reported to competent legal authorities. Period. End of discussion.