I think it had to be difficult to NOT hear all of the America media from about 2002 forward on the scandal here.  In a similar manner, can't imagine there wasn't a pretty good "buzz" going on when bishops met, attended conferences, etc.  Yet, once again, it takes media to get bishops to act on this?

This kind of "tardiness" is not an accident.  This wasn't "a late awakening," it was just yet another guy playing out his role in the church's script.  Contrast his action, with the image of a bishop who may have seen the scandal break in the US in 2002, and launched an internal investigation to see if HIS diocese may have had similar problems, and dealt with them immediately.

It's pretty clear that after France, there will be plenty more, for years to come.