'Common decency' can also be a matter of cultural perspective. That is not meant to sound like a mitigating excuse, but an attempt at a clarifying explanation. Leliana was born in Ferelden but grew up in Orlais. She had no idea (in DAO) that her initial perspective of elves was racist until the Elven Warden points out her views of them as 'different' was 'not cruel' but still ignorant. She admits her thoughts were very casual and 'just seemed natural and right', but she agrees she was wrong and adapts. Corypheus would have grown up in a society where it was common to use blood magic, to sacrifice 'lesser' lives for experimental purposes, and generally behave in an way that other societies found abhorrent and clearly condemn. As far as everybody else is concerned (including most players), Tevinter was only ever a paragon of virtue in their own minds.
As for the main topic, an objective documentary exploring Tevinter of old and the events surrounding the momentous parting of the Veil by the High Priests of the Old Gods could be quite fascinating.