MD,
Being an attorney, I'm pretty convinced that almost by definition, secular law is based on a "minimum standard" for  human interaction.  It was never truly designed to set the high bar: only the minimum needed to keep us from tearing each other apart.  For the higher order aspirational goals, religion, the arts and our thoughts set the bar and elevate basic human virtue/goodness.

I think it important to recognize then, what it really says when bishops play the secrecy card, and relegate justice to the secular courts.  This is a failure of epic proportion. Do they even understand what damage is done when they punt on the quest for something better as a human being? I cringe when I hear the chest beatings and apologies from these guys.  Are they sincere, or is this just theatre?

If these guys truly were focused on basic human aspiration for the good, for the holy, and the best there is in and among us, nothing could stop them.  Their system of law means nothing without that...