I know that in the past, confession was a legal defense for catholics. Such a bullshit thing to hide behind.

Whatever kind of offense it is it seems that everybody knows your confession.

I thought the Morons had learned their lesson. There have been plenty of problems where molesters confessed, were forgiven, only to go on to reoffend with new victims. Some of the stories out there are horrific. One young girl was pressered by her local church leaders - not just her Bishop - to forgive her molester because he was on his mission and they didn't want to bring him back to face charges. Somehow, the story was leaked and her peers at school began to taunt her and call her names. Her parents were also told they needed to forgive the guy who molested their daughter. She eventually became pregnant at 17 and married early most likely to escape those making her life hell.

Other stories have a similar theme with victims attempting suicide because they feel blamed. One single mother with a young son invited an older man who was about to become homeless to live with her and her son. Her Bishop mentioned that it wasn't a good idea but didn't tell her in any strong way to keep the man out of her home and away from her son. He knew this man had molested other boys but decided to conceal the fact from this mother. She felt the man was nice enough and proceeded to invite him into her home. Sure enough, he molested her son. It never should have happened and should have been prevented. Children need adults to protect them and not a church.

It is a problem when a church believes they have greater authority over criminal behavior than civil authorities. They are not prepared to take appropriate steps to protect their communities from predators. The Catholic church had the same issue with pedophile priests. In the court case against the Catholic church, the Moron church filed a Friends of the Court brief defending the Catholics. Protecting their feeling of superiority was more important than protecting children.

Because that has worked so well for the Catholic church.

Most churches do. The only religious denomination that I am aware of that does not advocate this 'not report it to the police' in Australia is the Salvation Army. They do it at once. Every other one is trying to sweep it under the carpet.