Compassion for the abuser
Over a year ago, a close family member of mine, who lives in a different state, was accused of possession of CP and admitting online to committing SA. They were adamant that their identity had been stolen, and they had no knowledge of any of it. Nothing happened criminally as far as we knew, despite them being detained briefly by federal agents. A restraining order was requested by his wife to keep them from their child, and at some point, she filed for divorce. However, both he and his wife continued to have a relationship with each other, and both acted like it was a case of mistaken identity. The story I got from the family was that the court was forcing them to do these things since the federal case hadn't been dismissed yet. No one in my family ever gave any consideration that the accusations could be true and always acted like it was something that was happening to him.
I had my suspicions due to other shady things this person had done in the past, but the longer it dragged on, the less sure I was. Surely, all these members of my family wouldn't support him if there was actual evidence that he did these terrible things.
Fast forward a year and my mom informs us that said family member has been in federal custody for over a week, and was only now telling us because there was a news article about it. Reading the article was a kick in the gut. Direct quotes from court documents say that not only is there damning online chats, but also a photograph that leaves all room for doubt about his guilt in the dust. At the very least, his wife and my parents knew this from the beginning and still played dumb to all of us. My family group chat (mostly Utah TBMs) had said no one knows what's going on, so I forwarded the article link. And got crickets for a response. Everyone, his ex wife included continue to act like this is just a bad situation that is happening to him. My oldest brother even called for a family fast for him and his family. No shock at the allegations, no sympathy for the victims. I've felt like I'm going crazy.
I know how much conditioning there is in the MFMC to excuse abuse, but to see so many family member that I love and respect turn a blind eye to what is almost certainly "the worst sin next to murder" is depressing as hell. Sorry for the long story and rant.
TLDR
Mormons just love to defend a pedophile