https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Catch_a_Predator
this might have a bit to do with it - I haven't watched regular TV since like 2002, but I recall this show was a big deal culturally (never watched it)
it certainly had it's flaws and conflicts of interest, but the reason it was canceled is pretty wild (CW: suicide)
::: spoiler spoiler
In November 2006, Perverted-Justice announced that another To Catch a Predator sting had been conducted with law enforcement in Murphy, Texas. There were 25 men who arrived at the location on Mandeville Drive over four days, with law enforcement investigating additional suspects. The predators included a former church music director and a former police officer in his 60s. These additional suspects, who conducted chats but did not arrive at the undercover house, included Kaufman County assistant district attorney Louis Conradt, who shot and killed himself on November 5, 2006, at his home when police attempted to serve him with a search warrant, after he had been caught talking to and exchanging pictures with a Perverted-Justice volunteer posing as a 13-year-old boy. After Conradt failed to appear at a prearranged meeting, NBC and local police tracked him to his home. He committed suicide as police and an NBC camera crew entered his home, capturing the scene when the fatal shot was fired. His estate, managed by his sister Patricia Conradt, filed suit against Dateline for US$105 million. The case was eventually settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
:::
the abrupt ending of the show, along with the fact that the honey-pot operation was ensnaring cops and DAs - it shows that there are likely many pedos in positions of power and 'respect', but then it got shutdown - which sure could have fueled many conspiracy spirals for the 'think of the children' crowd
didn't see any mentions in the thread so thought it was worth adding
edit: oh ya and all the catholic priest stuff has been percolating for decades - there was certainly a peak of those kinds of stories in the news but I can't say when that was really