I’m not sure where you heard this information about the Pope. His stance on the current scandal doesn’t square with this rumor at all. He has spoken out against this from the beginning and he has continued to follow-up on the progress and the actions of the Bishops in order to make sure this is faced head-on.

Please don’t use this current scandal as a reason to leave the church. The vast majority of priests have not been involved in this abhorrent behavior. They are good men who have taken on a difficult job because they love the Lord and want to help care for His flock!

Look in your heart and respond as St. Francis did. St. Francis was confronted with worse scandals than we are facing now. He worked from within the church for change. As a lay person, you can still work for change. Become active in your parish (if you are not already), speak up when you see errors, be helpful and supportive to the priests who are not involved in this scandal (a very small percent are part of this scandal), support the men who are preparing for the priesthood, pray that the right men will be led to this important vocation, etc. We were never promised that the church would be perfect. Jesus explained this to us in the parable of the weeds and the wheat. Even Jesus had scandal amongst the 12! One betrayed him and committed suicide, one denied him and all but one of them left him in his greatest moment of need!

I know you are hurt. I am too! But the church is your home! Don’t leave her when she needs you!