I think it is more than discretion. These incidents raise serious questions about the quality of judgement of these rabbis. People look to for advice, leadership and halakhic rulings from these rabbis and some people follow their every word blindly as almost (or even actual) ruach hakodesh. Yet again and again they show themselves to be myopic and out of touch with reality and defending people and things that they ought to be condemning.

well, even if the rabbis have a point, such as what Rav Aviner said in his letters defense, that he is talking from a halachic perspective and the civil court has no legitimacy, and in halacha the evidence would not have been enough, yada yada yada, this should not have been said,

Seems that there's a culture among many Rabbanim who have accepted the reality of having only halacha and no authorized "medina" law (i.e. a Jewish king), to the extent that they see the current system as completely acceptable and would be ideal without any "medina" interference.

In reality, king's law is needed for these kinds of situations - when halachic law would cause lots of strife in society and some authorized common sense can straighten things out.

That's perhaps the biggest galus of all.

Rafi, I think that you have brought out an important point, which also leads to questions about the quality of judgement of many (or most) of our Rabbis (as Rafi S. mentioned).

I only wish there was something practical that could change this situation; but it appears that this lack of discretion has even become a way for many Rabbis to emphasize their importance in the Jewish Rabbinic world!

Chachamin Hizaharu B'Divreichem!
Chaval al D'Avdin V'Einan Mishtakchin!

Sometimes it seems as if they think the publicity (any publicity even the bad kind) will increase their respect and power. And they may be right within their community. And that's even sadder than the incendiary statements they make.