Peter Steinfels's long career in journalism included years of service as editor of Commonweal (from which perch he took me to the woodshed more than once), followed by a decade as senior religion correspondent of the New York Times.
Before the sexual revolution, Catholics and the broader world stressed responsibility, gravity and adult standards of behavior.
In thin-skinned times such as these, Archbishop Viganò's most recent letter shines forth as a clarion call to Catholics everywhere.
"By sexually abusing children, Satan desires to destroy the icon of the kingdom of God."
It has been a news week quite unlike any other I have experienced in more than 20 years of Catholic journalism.
I have never seen so many "ordinary Catholics" — who usually never follow or hear about Church news — as deeply troubled as I have seen them in response to the recent revelations about the retired archbishop of Washington, DC.
Is it over? Yes and no. It was 10 years ago this month that the sexual abuse crisis exploded in the archdiocese of Boston, with reverberations across the world.
The headline at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website: John Jay College "Reports No Single Cause, Predictor of Clergy Abuse." So after all the years, money, and study, are we to conclude there is no conclusion?