It has to do with perception. Firstly, the immense size of the catholic church is one part of it. Second, it has to do with the way they handled the situation. The shell game they used to play with them outraged everyone. Not only that the denial and blaming the media infuriated everyone. . . EVERY religion out there has had this problem, ALL OF THEM. And none handled them well at all. . . Now I have no love for the catholic church but in their defense in the 50's and 60's they did what they thought was best. Most people in the mental health field did thing talk therepy would cure them. We know now that isn't true. It wasn't until the late 70's early 80's that we started learning there wasn't really anything you can do with a pedophile. But after a couple times at their 'treatment center' they should have known their was a problem!