Benedict XVI: Will He Ever Lead?
When it was announced this week that the chairman of the Vatican Bank was under investigation for money laundering, the Vatican said it was “perplexed and astonished.” The Vatican also expressed “maximum confidence” in the chairman. Sound familiar? The Vatican was astonished when the child sex abuse scandal first broke. The Vatican expressed confidence that Catholic priests would never engage in such outrageous conduct.
The bank scandal may divert attention away from the child abuse scandal but not for long. There are too many new allegations, too many adults who finally reveal a childhood destroyed. Unfortunately, I can think of no event in recent history that demonstrates so clearly what happens when people at the top of an organization fail to lead during a crisis.
I have previously used this tragedy in an effort to draw employment and leadership lessons (here, here, here, here, here, and here). I have looked at Pope Benedict XVI as a CEO — indeed, the CEO of CEOs. At a time when corporate CEOs are vilified, it seemed to me that the Pope had a chance to set an example for all leaders on dealing with a crisis.
My most recent post (the last link above) suggested that the Pope was beginning to lead. Alas, notwithstanding another statement released by the Vatican this week about the great success of Benedict’s recent visit to Europe, this trip underscores the depth of his failure in dealing with what’s usually called the greatest crisis in the Catholic Church’s history.
As he started his recent European trip, he decried aggressive secularism in the Church, and when he ended the trip, he decried the marginalization of Christianity. Although he has increased his references to the Church’s sex scandal, apologized for it, and met with a few victims of priestly sexual abuse, he has hardly dealt with the crisis in any kind of meaningful way. There is even still the unaddressed allegation that, before he became Pope, he participated in the cover-up of the abuse scandal. With all due respect, it would seem that secularism and marginalization couldn’t possibly be his main concerns?
The sex abuse crisis first broke as an America-only problem. Since then, longstanding abuse in country after country has been uncovered. The latest is Belgium. It’s difficult to believe that there won’t be others. By now, one can’t help wondering if it ever occurred in the Vatican.
To those who will view this post as an attack on their faith, I can only say it is more akin to a dirge. I have always given the Roman Church credit for keeping Christianity alive. It has never been perfect (the Crusades come to mind), but no organization can come close to the Catholic Church in defending Christianity over the centuries, keeping it alive, and causing it to grow. I still believe that.
However, I can think of no other church, organization, institution, corporation, or union that could have survived the child sex abuse scandal. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church’s continuing existence has much more to do with its incredible world-wide power than Benedict’s leadership. Incredible leadership could have occurred if Benedict and the Vatican hierarchy had fired priests and bishops for their perversely cruel behavior and the longstanding cover-up of that behavior. Such leadership would have established the touchstone for any employer’s obligation to be fair, just, and honest.
Everywhere Benedict travels, he’s met by a relatively small, but very vocal, crowd of detractors, protesting that the man who is called Holy Father and His Holiness should have already cleansed the church of all its monsters and begun healing the deep wounds that continue suffering in the body of Christ on earth. The pope’s protesters increasingly carry signs that say things that would have never been said only a few years ago. The most startling sign that I saw on the recent European visit showed a picture of Benedict and these words: “Boss of world’s largest sex abuse gang.”
Benedict still has time to lead as the Vicar of Christ by putting aside his aides’ apparent assurances that everything is alright and tackling this lingering crisis with fearless gumption, upright humility, and uncompromising resolve. He seems like a very nice man, but he needs to lead; and he can still show the world, as perhaps no one ever has, the profound meaning of leadership.
What’s to be learned? If you lead your company or organization, be willing to make tough, wrenching decisions. Don’t provide cover for long-time friends who’ve violated the trust placed in them. Don’t keep bad employees. If something terrible has happened, clean house. If it happened on your watch in whole or in part, step aside. When you say you’re going to do something, do it. Let the example you set match the words you speak.
Leave a Reply
About Chris Parker
Chris Parker's practice focuses on the representation and counseling of companies in matters pertaining to the workplace and the protection of their intellectual property and trade secrets. In addition to serving as an advocate for clients, Mr. Parker is also trained as a mediator and frequently serves as a third-party neutral.
Read more about Chris Parker
About Jimmy Daniel
Jimmy Daniel provides counseling to businesses of all sizes related to the employment relationship. He assists in the drafting of employment agreements, policies, and handbooks, as well as provides guidance related to compliance with federal, state, and local legislation such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Read more about Jimmy Daniel
About Larry Bridgesmith
While serving in an Of Counsel relationship with the firm, Mr. Bridgesmith also serves as the Executive Director at the Institute for Conflict Resolution at Lipscomb University and as an officer and principal in Strategic Resolutions Group, LLC. In these roles, Mr. Bridgesmith brings over 30 years of legal experience in dispute resolution and innovative workplace strategies to clients, students and business entities alike.
Read more about Larry Bridgesmith
It is troubling to see the hopes of us the victims of clergy sex abuse, be pushed aside by a man who could have provided healing. The Pope had the opportunity to reach out in a meaniful way to victims and provide a forumn for healing. Unfortunately, his actions have not backed up his proclaimed cleansing of the Church.
At last, a balanced, objective article stating what would seem to be obvious but apparently is not: Ultimately the pope is responsible for what is not happening regarding the clergy sexual abuse scandal. He has not given any negative consequences to those bishops, archbishops and cardinals who covered up for sexually abusing priests. He has not made sure that those priests convicted of sexual abuse are punished by law. All of his apologies are empty words. If he wants Catholics to believe in his integrity, then he has to demonstrate it, not just speak of it.
Verne,
Thanks for your comment. As I stated in my post, I think Benedict hasn’t shown the leadership that has to be shown in a situation like this. I can only imagine the difficulty for the pope to lead like he should. He undoubtedly has pressure from all sorts of places. He is also dealing with longtime friends. And maybe he still doesn’t grasp the horror of what has happened. I don’t know. I do know that if he would make the most difficult decisions of his life, he could lead the church out of the morass in which it’s mired and will be in until someone makes those decisions.
Thanks again.
John
Gabe,
Thanks for your comment. You’re right, the buck stops with him. The cover-up is, in some ways, more sinister than the sex abuse. The whole scandal seems to be too big for Benedict to get his arms around it. Maybe that’s part of the reason why he now says the right things but can’t seem to muster the wherewithal to back up the words with action.
Thanks again for your comment.
John
Interesting to note that 4 of the 5 victims (chosen randomly) he met with in London were female. (4 out of 5 victims are actually male!!)
Random my foot!! Still, nice to see the Church giving females a voice at last. That was sarcasm, by the way!!
There are men still in leadership close to the pope who are named as alleged supporters of the founder of a religious order who helped sustain him in active ministry for over sixty years. Right from the beginning,getting kicked-out of two seminaries, this guy was bad news. The whole time he was propped-up by the last pope and those around him and revered as a living saint. It would be a refreshing and purifying thing to see the current pope and those who are alleged to have taken the, “bad news founder’s” bribes to testify in open international court.
Fr Anthony,
If you regularly read my blog, you’ll know I’m a fan of sarcasm. I don’t know if the Vatican has a real pr department or is relying on outside help. This crisis is not only a good leasson on how not to lead, but also one on how not to handle public relations.
I may be naive or too much of a glass half full person, but I’m still hopeful that the powers that be will come to their senses.
Thanks very much for your comment.
John
Ben,
This kind of story gives one the creeps. While it would be interesting to hear the testimony you talk about, I would say there’s no chance of a hearing in an international court.
It would be refreshing indeed if the Pope would do the purification on his own.
Thanks for your comment.
John