Addendum to Steven Shea: "The priest sex abuse crisis was not just about the bishops and their henchmen who covered up these crimes..."
It was also about the complicity of militant, conservative lay people who discredited and targeted victim advocates in every way possible, assisting the clergy in clever, well planned humiliation & shunning tactics. Mental illness was insinuated.  Phone harassment and stalking were common.  These 'dirty tricks' took a toll on family relationships as well since family members could not always believe what we were personally experiencing.   Knowing that there were Mafia connections within the damage control mechanisms of the Church made some of us advocates fear for our lives.
Yes, the web of deceit in this issue was/is much bigger than most Catholics can even imagine; and the fallout has only just begun.