Joseph & Neut:
There is one sliver of truth to your agreed upon point. I concur that there is no organized effort to protect molesters, whoever and wherever they are. That idea is launched and reinforced by the “fanatics” who claim falsely to be protecting children. Their extremism is only overshadowed by their sin’as Yisroel. We should know better by now.
The reality is that people tend to react to horrible news with open and frank denial. It is not uncommon at all that someone would respond to the news of a death by saying, “No, it can’t be.” That individual, sooner or later, needs to face the truth, and the dead person is not returning to life, until techiyas hameisim. Being notified that someone in a position of authority and power, particularly someone of the clergy (including positions in chinuch) is certainly shocking. One would wish to not believe the bearer of these tidings. In contrast to death, where one can personally witness the corpse, there is only the report of the event, and denying that is all too easy.
In the instances that get the bad press, the others in power wish to deny the truth of the report. Not because it is not true, but because they don’t want it to be true. This occurs individually in so many cases.
I agree with you both that the conspiracy theory is foolish and irresponsible, and I condemn those who believe it and push it. But the coverups occur, and they are common. I do hold those participating in a coverup responsible.