We’ve made the case here that Pope Benedict XVI has been a leading force for change in the Church’s handling of clerical sex abuse cases. And now we’ve got the documents proving he’s been that way for more than two decades.

When the world's cardinals gather in Rome at the end of next week to greet 24 new fellow members of the College of Cardinals, they will all attend a day of "reflection and prayer" at the Vatican on November 19. And one of the topics to be covered is the Church’s handling of the sex-abuse crisis.

An unauthorized demonstration was rewarded with an unofficial letter, as a small group of anti-clergy abuse protesters held a protest near the Vatican marking “Reformation Day.” The protest was organized by a group called “Survivors Voice,” founded by Gary Bergeron and Bernie McDaid, two U.S. victims of clergy sexual abuse. The unexpected and conciliatory letter came from the the head of the Vatican's press office.

In the weeks leading up to the canonization of St. Mary MacKillop by Pope Benedict XVI last Sunday in Rome, the proposal was made by some that she be honored not only for being a Catholic pioneer and a model for Australians but also as the patron saint of abuse survivors or whistleblowers of sexual abuse by the clergy.

In a remarkably personal letter, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged men around the world studying for the priesthood not to let their vocation be shaken by the scandal of sex-abuser priests.

"Instead of guiding people to greater human maturity and setting them an example, their abusive behaviour caused great damage for which we feel profound shame and regret. As a result of all this, many people, perhaps even some of you, might ask whether it is good to become a priest; whether the choice of celibacy makes any sense as a truly human way of life....

Greg Erlandson, president and publisher of Our Sunday Visitor Publishing and co-author of "Pope Benedict XVI and the Sexual Abuse Crisis," is one of a handful of American representatives at a Vatican conference on the role of the Catholic press....

This blog has been pretty critical of mainstream media coverage of Pope Benedict XVI's involvement in the handling of specific cases of U.S. priest-abusers. By and large, the American journalistic narrative of taking down the man at the top of the organization (and perhaps a latent animus to Catholic Church teachings, particularly on sexual morality) has led too many respected U.S. media organizations to don ideological blinders and ignore basic principles of journalistic ethics.

So I am happy to report that the Associated Press, in a recent story, is a shining exception to that trend.