text: I too am cynical, but probably not a saint.  It is mind boggling to me on one level that the Church continues to try to blow the smoke in the opposite direction when there is obviously a major fire with clerical abuse.  However, it is not mind boggling to me when I really look at the theology behind the priesthood and the clerical ladder that has promulgated. No pope can afford to deal with this issue head on because to do so will force that pope to deal with the whole ontological, god called me, male only priesthood.  The clerical abuse scandal goes to the heart of the sacramental priesthood, but not just the sacramental priesthood.  It also hits Catholic sexual morality, and the intrinsic value of BORN children. For any number of reasons, ordained priests can't think their way out of those boxes so the People of God will continue to pay the price.  Francis is no solution to any of those conundrums.