I have to agree here with . Jess, by using WP:WEASEL words like "sweeping" (i.e. unquantifiable) you are showing your bias to the topic.  Pope Benedict did in fact enact changes which you can read in detail here .  In 2010 abuse ALLEGATIONS (note: not convictions nor substantiated events) against Catholic clergy numbered just 8. I would invite you to use scientific method to grasp a cause and effect here.