To Catholics, you are not the church

[edhopper]

You are the flock. The Church is the hierarchical organization consisting of the clergy.
If the pedophile story has shown us anything, the church sees protecting itself the highest priority.
It resembles a cult more than a large religion. It's members are usually taken in young, must disavow all outside attachments, have no family but the church, and never form outside relationships.
Unlike other religious institutions the clergy are not part of the community they serve, but are placed their by the hierarchy. The churchgoers really have no say in the actions of the church.

That's the way I see it.