Scientists are not, your blame is a bit misplaced. Scientists by and large just want to understand stuff. It's those who interpret the work for people in your news that are trying to create the us vs them mentality, and to get people to take hardened sides. I certainly don't agree that scientists are modern day priests, I am not at least. Just a guy who wants to learn cool stuff about how cells work, and who wants to help people deal with the crazy amount of disinformation I see from the reports on scientific work.