Hearing about abuse stories in the news recently promoted a deeper look. A common thread through many stories is authority figures not reporting on abuse they are told about. This can happen for many reasons, but it does not do the innocent any justice. The same can be said for those refusing to work with proper authorities.
When a victim's authority-- teachers, leaders, employees, or even parents, seek to cover up, dismiss, or ignore the abuse for any reason, they may become just as guilty as the abuser. Some would compare it to being an accomplice. Yet this happens all too often. Especially where cases of criminal abuse (involving authority figures) takes place within public organizations.
Not only is it tragic when the abuse happens, but it is even more so when it is covered up, swept under the rug, minimized, mis-represented, even lied about by authorities in a position above the abusers.
Abuse making the news is nothing new, and it will never be something we take lightly; but the untold story is how it is handled by those involved &/or in charge, and how their mishandling of a terrible situation affects the victims even more so.
When the story goes untold, it's like turning victims away or dismissing the truth. Deeds done in darkness will remain there until reports shed light on the truth and expose the deeds.
