Posted on: Tuesday, June 18, 2002

EDITORIAL
Catholic Church crisis lesson for institutions

It will take time to understand whether the new "zero tolerance" policy toward molestation adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will resolve a crisis of confidence plaguing the church.

But there is a larger issue here, in which the Catholic Church is but one example. A political, public relations and moral storm has forced the church to confront its own demons. But in certain fundamental ways, the issues facing the Catholics are not unique to this church or this institution.

Virtually every institution of public trust in American life faces similar challenges. This includes politics, education, the news media, the law and others.

While the issue may not be sexual abuse, there will be something that virtually every institution will have to answer for, if not today then in the future.

It wasn't that long ago, for instance, that America went through a somewhat similar crisis of confidence over politics, following the Watergate revelations of the 1970s. We learned our political leaders were willing to lie to us, and to cheat in so many ways to preserve their hold on power.

The Watergate era led to a massive reform effort that continues today. While things are still far from perfect, the American public has at least learned it has the right to demand an honest political system and to impose sanctions on those who would abuse their trust.

If the current crisis in the Catholic Church teaches other institutions anything, it is that their very existence depends on a bond — a social contract, if you will — between the institution and those it serves. Betray that trust and then try to ignore or hide the consequences, and any hope of effectiveness is ruined.