Regarding: "In some cases, payment was conditioned on the mother's promise to hide the father's identity."
- Another consequence of the scandal of episcopal secrecy! How many promising presbyters were 'saved' by the bishop who stepped in with lawyers and money to silence the priest's girl friend / lover?  How many of those promising presbyters ended up as bishops further aiding and abetting the church in its task of hiding the rape of children, the molestation of young people, and now we add, silencing women who bear the children of presbyters?
- Any presbyter who pressures a women to abort the baby, or release the baby into foster care, and / or lies about the women must be punished by his faith community and shunned by men and women of good will - at least until he starts to support the women and the child.