Advice needed, I have been ostracised by the church and community all because I tried to help a woman in need

I will try to keep the story short, I noticed my beautiful single neighbour leave her house and head into town...I also noticed that she had left her washing on the line. Shortly after it began to rain so I decided to do the neighbourly thing and take in her washing. There was so much of it I could not manage so decided just to gather all the light clothing and take it back to my house to dry. Shortly after my neighbour arrived at my house with a police officer accusing me of being a pervert and stealing her underwear off the line. The police man came in and found the (now dry) clothing under my bed (I had put it there as this was the warmest place in the house). My explanation fell on deaf ears and the community now think I am a pervert. Why is it so hard to be a decent person in today's modern world?