The church under Wojtila and Ratzinger took both paths, but the one, alas, has slowly eclipsed the other - until the sex abuse scandal tipped the scales to a near total collapse of moral authority in so many places, Ireland most spectacularly.[emphasis mine] Sully
That's right, near total collapse of moral authority. Near.
Andrew Sullivan is a smart guy. That he continues to be astonished at his church is, well, astonishing.