The extortion issue affects the entire Hierarchy, but perhaps the more important question is, who turned the focus of the issue onto the Church and away from allegations by business figures, allegations which are also linked to the November 17 issue?

One answer stands out. Those who brought the blackmail issue into the spotlight soon discovered that things did not develop as they had hoped if they were to further their own plans. So when events boomeranged, and with the help of clerics who had their own reasons for doing so, they shifted the focus onto the Church, which was easy prey for the media. This is the view of members of the Hierarchy who are afraid that the Church will have to pay for the sins of others.