BishopAccountability.org
	Corrupt Leaders Should Be Held Accountable for Actions, Inaction By Tyler Brown Kansas State Collegian November 3, 2011 http://www.kstatecollegian.com/opinion/corrupt-leaders-should-be-held-accountable-for-actions-inaction-1.2665464#.TrTqg7KartQ Everyday, there are those who walk among us with a power that few others know. The ones I speak of are members of organizations – not only that, but they're heads of their respective bodies. Some of these men and women are there for their followers, to guide them when needed and to help communicate their faith with God. What if some of these people, these trusted community leaders, were deceiving their faithful followers? Well, the sad, but inevitable truth is that this isn't a "what if" scenario – it goes on every day all around the world. Even worse is that many followers put these political and religious leaders, the shapers of a lot of ideals, up on a pedestal that makes them seemingly above being human. What brought this situation to my attention once again was a recent predicament that hit close to home. Last month, Bishop Robert W. Finn and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph were indicted; each was charged with one misdemeanor count involving a case of a priest that had been accused of taking pornographic pictures of girls, reported A.G. Sulzberger and Laurie Goodstein of The New York Times in an Oct. 14 article. Since accusations of abuse first came about 25 years ago, this is the first time a bishop from the United States has been held criminally liable for the abuse. Although not physically involved, Finn revealed that he had known about the photographs last December, even though he didn't reveal their existence until May. The Rev. Shawn Ratigan, who is suspected of continuing his abusive behaviors during the time that Finn knew, but didn't do anything, took the pictures in question. What makes things even worse is that a decade ago, all bishops pledged to report suspected abusers to the authorities – and Bishop Finn made such a pledge only three years ago in part of a $10 million settlement with abuse victims in Kansas City, Mo. Needless to say (though I find myself saying it), the Catholic church stateside is shaken by such news. However, maybe we shouldn't be that shocked over these findings. Over the past almost 25 years or so, countless numbers of abuse victims have come forward, revealing some of the most trusted people in their communities to be fiends that clearly preached empty sermons. Finn is a man who knew a fire was in the room, and a young girl's life and dignity at stake, but chose not to act. I guess the question now is: what should we all do about such findings? Well firstly, we have to respect one another's faith. However, should some consider a different form of their religion? With so many cases of abuse, how can people continue supporting an organization as corrupt as this? I realize this could be said for any organization, and the ties that bind are clear: man, meaning humanity in general, has their hands in such things. On the whole, humanity isn't really known for being a peace-loving, good-natured species, no matter what word they follow from whatever god they choose to listen to. No matter what pledges one may take, we're all still human and we still have natures that can't be wiped away or denied. So if something like this happens, show your disappointment in the organization, no matter what it is. Whether it is political, religious, or what have you, if a corrupt leader is found, and they will be, find a way for your voice to get through and stop supporting organizations who are revealed to continually produce corrupt "leaders" of the people. To put it simply, we are flawed and will continue to be until we reach our most likely timely demise. The only thing we can do is try to counter the awful things people do by trying to be better.
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