THIS OLD CHURCH
The old church of my youth.  On it's right sat the priest's rectory.  To the left was the school.  Across the street stood a little convent where the nuns lived.  Yes, it may sound like I bash the church.  People today joke about being "Recovering Catholics" as if they're in some kind of Twelve Step program.  Any fault lies with me.  I was given (force fed) a good education.  After eight years of Catholic school all other school houses were easy.  True, the priests, bishops and nuns were 100% sure of their beliefs and were intolerant of other theologies.  Welcome to life among human beings.  The world is still full of people of all religious stripes who have little or no tolerance for disagreement. One must remember that as priests forbade us to watch certain TV shows, Ku Klux Klanners were harming Catholics in horrible ways.
There are people who claim to have  been sexually abused by priests in the 50's, 60's and beyond.  I have no way of judging their honesty.  I have sympathy for those who were truly abused—I have revulsion for those who have come forward with false claims.  Keep in mind, it is very difficult to prove YOU DIDN'T DO SOMETHING.  As a safety valve maybe we should limit payment of damages to a lifetime of psychological counseling. 

Otto J. Herrmann
It was my experience that most priests were like this man—straight (in all senses), dedicated and kind.  He was "Old School." He could explode in rage and he taught a gospel I no longer can accept.  At the same time he was a font of human compassion and ANY child of ANY sex or age would have been safe and nurtured in his arms.