Not at that time. Do the research. As a reporter, I did, and I wanted that out as well. No one would touch that aspect of what was going on in society and being swept under the rug. Two things about this bothered me from the reporting end: The incomplete coverage and the gleefulness of which some went after the one organization. Both society and news reporting deserved better.
Oh, noes, you are going into QAnon territory here.
What God knows has nothing to do with the human psyche, ego, and conscience. The Church walks in the steps of Jesus, and Jesus ministry centered around telling everyone, "Sins are forgiven." Hearing that made all the difference to people, and so it continues to this day.
Jesus never existed.
The Church is about power and enriching itself. Making people go to church, selling indulgences (confessions are just a dried up version of that) and increasing their own power has always been the goal.
No worries. Jesus noted that the way is narrow and few find it. The difference between you and a billion Catholics is that for many the search and the learning continues.
The difference between me and a billion Catholics is that I see through the scam and did so at an early age.