More powerful than God?

I am following with some interest the storm brewing in Ireland regarding Sean Brady, the head of the Catholic church there. It is becoming clear that Mr Brady in his position as a key part of the organisational hierarchy back in the 70s neglected to inform proper authorities (i.e. the police) about a notorious paedophile priest (Brendan Smyth) he was even involved in some of the victims signing secrecy oaths regarding the matter.

As time goes on and more and more Catholic abuse scandals hit our newspapers and TV screens it has become clear to some that we are dealing with an organisation that certainly was (even if not any more) rotten to the core in many countries; putting the interests of the organisation above the interests of the vulnerable people in it's care. Much like scandals in companies such as Enron, the disregard for the law was systemic and occurred over a long period of time in many different places (i.e. it was not an isolated incidence), backed up by an infrastructure that covered up and lied about that abuse; the key difference between the Catholic church and Enron though is that the leadership of Enron was brought to book (eventually).

This whole thing got me thinking about a more general point, what will it take to break the back of organised religion in society, what force would convince people to say enough is enough?

Famously in the Bible story about Abraham and Isaac God instructs Abraham to kill his own son, like the Catholic priests in the child abuse scandal Abraham is willing to put dogma before morality and lifts his blade. In the story an angel stops the infanticide before it happens and Abraham puts a luckless ram under his knife instead, phew that's OK then!, but would people today be happy to blindly follow orders like this?

Martin McGuinness (no stranger to putting dogma before morality) said in a recent comment regarding the case of Mr Brady,

"I am someone who passionately believes in the protection of children. Under no circumstances can we ever see again a circumstance where people have the opportunity to abuse our children."

McGuinness (a Catholic) clearly makes the point that he believes there are "no circumstances" where "our children" should be exposed to potential abusers, presumably he would have to include abuse by people who believe that God is telling them what to do (or what not to report to the police)?

Reproduction is one of our most basic instincts, it drives us and provides huge meaning in life for the majority of people, our selfish genes demand nothing less. I wonder how many people would place the the dogma of a religion above the well-being of their children, when all is said and done, is biology a more powerful force than God?