Yes, I do believe that is a large part of the problem. At least, that is what I am discovering as I plow my way through the "small" abuses. These are like trial balloons intended to test the waters of the congregation. As you well know, many catholics rarely question change. Instead, if they are truly displeased or upset, they simply stop going to mass. They "assume" that the priest (and his bishop) are complying with doctrine. Not necessarily so!
The other part of this story is that a group of liberal thinkers have used VaticanII to promulgate their own wishes. Just wait til you see the story I post tomorrow. There is a new lawsuit against the Albany Diocese and this one extends to the Director of Counseling for the Laity. She is being used by the bishop to manipulate the "victims of sexual abuse" into accepting a one time settlement, instead of actually counseling them. She is rather well known across the US.