When will it stop? Too many priests, too many children, over too many years. Is there an end in sight? What is the best way to get to the bottom of this ugliness, hurt, pain and shame? No other church organization is given the privilege to investigate itself of child sex crimes. Is the Catholic Church above the law? Is this fair? How many more Priests of the Catholic Church who have served and are still serving today under a sexual scandal cloud?

What makes their settlements difference from President Trump's? Hush monies, betrayal of trust, avoidance of prosecution, and in the public's eyes embedded in this religious organization should we be surprised when it raises its head in the political world-city, state, federal levels? Why the double standards when it comes to addressing priests sex-crimes/allegations compared to others? Are priest allow to marry? Could this be a contributing factor to the vast number of priests, victims, and for so long?

Shouldn't there be a separation of church and state? Do you think a Special Counsel, of non-catholic faith, be appointed to get to the bottom and settle this thing, once and for all? Shouldn't we want the whole truth for our children, communities, families, and peace of mind? What can be said and done? This can't continue. Help! Help! Help!... CM

Amy Held September 13, 20182:52 PM ET

Archbishop Jose Gomez (left) and Cardinal Daniel DiNardo arrive at the Perugino Gate to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Thursday to discuss the sex abuse crisis within the church.

Gregorio Borgia/AP
As Pope Francis sat down at the Vatican Thursday with a delegation of U.S. bishops and cardinals to discuss how to gain ground in the sexual abuse crisis engulfing the Catholic Church, fresh scandals emerged on both sides of the Atlantic.

In Germany, a first-of-its kind study leaked to German news outlets found that over the past seven decades, at least 3,677 children have been sexually abused by clergy members there.

Researchers who spent four years studying records and conducting new interviews found that 1,670 priests and other religious leaders were suspected of engaging in abuse — 4.4 percent of the total number of clergy in the country.

And yet researchers repeatedly emphasized throughout the 350-page report that the actual numbers are likely "significantly higher," German newspaper Die Zeit reports.

Some two dozen dioceses participated in the study, commissioned by the Catholic Church bishops' conference in Germany.

But critics say because the church is both subject and sponsor of the report, the findings are inherently flawed.

"The report does not give the full picture, and is not fully independent," German criminologist Christian Pfeiffer told The New York Times.

Pfeiffer told the Times that researchers from three universities were unable to look directly at church files, instead relying on church workers to fill out questionnaires. And the report says that in several instances, church files documenting abuse have been altered or destroyed.

The official findings are not set for release until Sept. 25.

Last month, an explosive grand jury report covering a similar time period in Pennsylvania revealed that 300 "predator priests" had abused more than 1,000 victims with the help of a systematic cover-up by church leaders.

But the grand jury added a caveat: "We believe that the real number ... is in the thousands."

Seeking a way forward, American bishops and cardinals laid the crisis bare before the pope at the Vatican on Thursday.

"We shared with Pope Francis our situation in the United States — how the Body of Christ is lacerated by the evil of sexual abuse," the head of the delegation, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, said in a statement.

DiNardo, who had requested the meeting in response to the sexual abuse scandal around Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, said it "was a lengthy, fruitful, and good exchange" and that the pope "listened very deeply from the heart."

While DiNardo offered no specifics about how they plan to address the abuse, he said they prayed with the pope "for God's mercy and strength as we work to heal the wounds. We look forward to actively continuing our discernment together identifying the most effective next steps."...

But a man testifying four years ago in the Philadelphia trial of Monsignor William Lynn, the first senior U.S. Catholic Church official convicted of concealing sex abuse, accused Bransfield of misconduct.

The man said that another priest had raped him in Bransfield's home. He also testified that his abuser told him Bransfield was sexually abusing one or more boys.

Bransfield issued a statement at the time denying the allegations. And a West Virginia diocese issued a statement in his defense, saying Bransfield's alleged victim denied the abuse, the Associated Press reports.

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This Church sex-crime thing is getting out of hand. It's too much for the Roman Catholic Church to handle on its own. The Church is becoming a real sexual crime enterprise, better yet, Empire. The laws of every country around the world must unite to stop the soiling of our children and the destruction of families. This wholesale Holy Sin, hush money and violating the most vulnerable of society have to be addressed Now! This thing is beyond the Pope. They are raping the German Children like in America. This filthiness must cease, everywhere! I call on the Pope to declare a state of Emergency and shut the RCC down until every molesting Pedophile Priests are arrested and jailed. He must do it in the name of humanity. No one in their right mind, can or should continue to support the church's business as usual. The skies are crying by this evil that's tolerated by the RCC.

Lord, listen to your children praying". Drive out the molesters as you did the money changers from the temple. Amen!