Hiding behind the good doesn’t minimise the harm already done

I don’t know what it is about some people and institutions, but when a scandal breaks, some hide behind the good that has been done in order to minimise the fallout created.

When the supporters are mobilised to protect such a person’s “good name,” I don’t know about you, but it always wreaks as inappropriate to me. If there’s a scandal, let the facts settle, and get the independent thinkers and real authorities (where appropriate) involved.

The best organisations and people have nothing to do with partiality and conflicts of interest. If a matter can’t be settled with all the facts laid out, there is something wrong.

Let the cards fall where they will and don’t allow people to tread all over a crime scene, not that we’re talking only crimes. This is just solid business and life practice.

Then there’s the issue of those who have done incredible things in their careers and ministries but are alleged or known abusers. What happens when a scandal breaks?

In one scenario, the abuser’s integrity—yes, that’s an oxymoron—has them fall on their sword, which is great (especially for victims of their assaults) when it happens. This usually happens when their guilt is clear cut.

But another scenario is all too predictable; the cover up is attempted, which involves the cranking up of the propaganda machine, and where there is a flurry of communication and alliances mobilised for a battle; to “save the ‘wronged’ leader.”

This kind of thing does victims significant damage. The victims are re-traumatised as their names are implicated in a “smear campaign.”

I know some reading this may have a bias toward believing that false reports are common, but I believe through over twenty years involved in incident reporting that people just don’t report what is destined to demand massive courage from them without the allegations having threads of strong truth about them.

In some circles, and particularly some (not most or all) church circles, where “God must be on the side of the leadership,” counterattacking allegations is seen as their right. That is skating on thin ice.

What occurs is the army of “friends” that are mobilised against the allegations cites the tremendous good that has been done, all the while forgetting that it DOES NOT MATTER how much good any of us does if there are serious immoral, unethical and illegal practices involved.

How is it possible that “good Christian people” can go into bat for a person with a stellar record who has also abused minors? Or, had “affairs” (i.e. in real terms, clergy sex abuse) in their time in ministry? Or, spiritually abused congregants or staff? Or, been involved in financial misconduct or another legal breach? The list goes on.

Nobody can vouch for a husband who looks impeccable but whose wife finally calls him a horror. Whatever you say to his defence is immediately disqualified because it’s irrelevant in a situation that involves what only his wife and family can see. How can anyone call her a liar, a mischief or (worse!) a Jezebel? To call anyone a Jezebel for calling time on an abusive marriage is itself an abuse—spiritual abuse.

We can well understand the shock, horror and disbelief we feel when someone who was seemingly above reproach and so full of integrity has to answer serious allegations of misconduct. The fact is nobody is beyond temptation, no matter how good they seem. It shouldn’t surprise us, but it does, simply because they vowed before God never to do such things!

This principle is the same in all those places where the person has no doubt blessed people, but where secret liaisons become coherently well known. A litany of witnesses compels the fan club to be quiet. And even a single witness deserves their hearing. If the person is innocent, let the facts stand in the person’s defence. Otherwise, stay quiet.

No amount of good covers for even a single incident of significant wrongness. And where there is such wrongness, repentance must meet the level of the wrong done. And it ought to be the victims who have a say about when the repentance demands mercy.

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There is an old saying attributed to Warren Buffett: 

“It takes twenty years to build a reputation and only five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”

Indeed, if only we walk daily with that reality in mind, that’s the “fear of the Lord” that drives integrity, because integrity doesn’t come from within us without depending on God.

Integrity comes from being truly accountable before God, and that makes us stand up and take notice of wise voices and truths everywhere. Integrity doesn’t lean on its own understanding.

Photo by Road Trip with Raj on Unsplash