Studies commissioned by the U.S. bishops found more than 4,000 U.S. priests have faced sexual abuse allegations since the early 1950s, in cases involving more than 10,000 children, most of them boys.
It is reported that in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the former pastor of St. Augustine Cathedral, Monsignor Kevin Wallin, 61, was arrested recently for possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamines.
The indictment claims that Wallin made up to 9,000 dollars a week peddling the highly addictive stimulant.
Wallin resigned as pastor in the summer of 2011 and was relieved of his priestly duties by William Lori, then bishop of Bridgeport.
Church officials say they learned Wallin sometimes dressed in women's clothing entertained other men similarly dressed, and the rectory was the setting for sexual activity among them.
Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City, Missouri, was convicted last year of one count of failing to report suspected child abuse to civil authorities that pornographic photographs of children taken by one of his priests had been found on the priest's computer.
According to the church law established by the U.S. bishops, he should be removed from his position. But he remains a bishop in good standing, even though under court-ordered restrictions and supervision in two jurisdictions imposed as part of bargains designed to keep him out of jail.
The National Catholic Reporter issued an editorial entitled "The Real Scandal of Our Church" which says: "It would be difficult to develop a script more revelatory of the confounding priorities of the Vatican than that contained in the news of recent days."
"Real scandal -- covering up the rape of children, compromising the church's reputation with bizarre behavior and sexual shenanigans by its priests -- is met with either silence from on high or unpersuasive explanations," the editorial says.
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