How did DC Comics respond to Frederic Wertham's criticism of Batman and Robin?

In his 1954 book Seduction of the Innocent, psychiatrist Frederic Wertham criticized Batman and Robin, alleging that their domestic arrangement promoted a gay lifestyle and moral decay among youth.1

To counter these accusations, DC Comics took several steps to reshape the "Batman Family" and soften the tone of the series:

• Expanding the Cast: DC introduced new characters to provide traditional romantic interests and domestic balance, most notably Batwoman (Kathy Kane) and Batgirl (Betty Kane), as well as other additions like Ace the Bat-Hound and Bat-Mite.21
• Altering Content: The publisher removed or "neutered" Batman’s more ghoulish adversaries and shifted the tone toward a "kinder, gentler" version of the hero.1
• Industry-wide Censorship: Beyond specific changes to Batman, the broader comic book industry—facing intense public and government scrutiny—formed the Comics Magazine Association of America (CMAA) and adopted the Comics Code Authority (CCA) to enforce strict editorial standards regarding violence and morality.3

These efforts to appease critics ultimately led to a decline in the quality of the stories, bringing the Batman titles to the brink of cancellation.1