Typical Telegraph horseshit! The reasoning of the blatantly conservative author: the church engaged in a cover-up of systematic child rape ( or 'relentless mortal sin' as the author tellingly writes) because, dear Telegraph readers, it was TOO LIBERAL after 'Vatican II'.

Right, thanks for that, Telegraph. If only the Catholic Church had retained its ancient dogma, no children would have been raped!

In the real world, however, it seems pretty obvious that this kind of molestation has probably been going on for centuries. The only difference is that now, thanks to the growth of secularism, people are willing to speak out against the crimes and abuses of 'holy men', and can do so without fear of retribution (e.g. accusations of heresy, torture, burning at the stake) at the hands of the 'devout' who have monopolised Irish society and government since the Middle Ages.

Child abuse isn't rampant because the Catholic establishment is more liberal than it used to be. Child abuse is rampant because the Catholic establishment EXISTS.