That's the news I thought the headline of this article was referring to, predicting an "exodus" from the Church. It's hard to believe that many members of the Catholic laity haven't known about predatory priests for years and went along with the hush-up. It's only now, when lawyers can get fat judgements against the Church, that the cases are being revealed.
One of the harder-hit areas in the country for this execrable sin was Milwaukee.
It so happens that I am a fairly active Catholic, and know a LOT of priests--including one who has been accused (nothing more than that, yet.)
Sorry to report to you that this stuff was NOT "widespread knowledge" among Catholics--NOR would any of us have covered it up, PERIOD.
Sadly, this knowledge was available to Bishops who failed, miserably--some through stupidity, some through complicity.