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	Pope Confronts Priest Scandal and Teaches a Wider Lesson on Speaking up Early Sun-Sentinel April 22, 2008 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editafpopepnapr22,0,2826486.story Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States went a long way toward healing wounds, and re-establishing the Catholic Church's spiritual and moral authority. But that the pontiff needed to heal wounds in the first place speaks to the damage caused by a widespread string of sex abuse scandals. And there lies an abject lesson for people and institutions of all faiths and purposes. It is better to face up to wrongdoing, and confront it aggressively, than to look the other way. It is best to accept embarrassment upfront than to feel the sting of a much broader scandal. Previously, papal tours of the United States were largely ceremonial and spiritual events. They were an opportunity for Catholics to convene in celebration and joy, and for the pontiff to host inter-faith, bridge-building gatherings. Much of Pope Benedict's time in Washington and New York, however, was dedicated to addressing the sex abuse debacle. The pope issued an apology on behalf of the church, and he met with victims in an attempt to seek reconciliation and forgiveness. Those gestures were appreciated, and they go a long way toward putting that ugly chapter behind the American church. But they don't erase the damage done to lives or to the church, which has doled out more than $2 billion in legal settlements. Worse, the dollar sums are relatively small compared to the damage the abuse did to the church's credibility and standing. Therein lies the broader lesson. It is important for individuals and organizations to speak up and speak out when they see wrongdoing. American culture today seems conflicted about this. There are people who don't want to "snitch," or even get involved. And some who try to do the right thing are ostracized, and sometimes even threatened and intimidated, for it. That's wrong. The abuse scandal is proof, once again, that looking the other way only allows wrongdoing to mushroom, ultimately casting doubt on everyone's integrity.
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