FC, First thought ... it may be legal but it may not be just. ... I thought bishops , including the Bishop of Rome; were all for justice. That justice was an intrinsic element of Christianity. But then bishops, have under questioning at judicial reviews, agreed that their first priority was to protect the high moral ground rather than protect children, who were victims of clerical & religious abuse. So between their perch on the "high moral ground" and their love of the  "legal system" (since there is no shortage of diocesan funds) both justice & Christianity also become victims. Is it any wonder that the pews are hemorrhaging of worshipers, who see no accountability. A significant number of bishops are very Catholic by the definition of the Papal Court but very un-Christian by Christian values .. That is the basic learning from the abuse scandal and accounts for the total loss of credibility for those bishops as Christian leaders; including the Bishops of Rome; past & present.