Abuse Charges Against Australian Cardinal Points to Disjointed Culture

There’s a reason why I used the Catholic Church as an example of disjointed workplace culture in my book, From Bully to Bull’s-Eye: Move Your Organization Out of the Line of Fire. A disjointed culture is typified by a hierarchical and bureaucratic culture that tries to accommodate everyone. In a disjointed culture process is substituted for purpose, regional employees work in silos, there are few checks and balances, and bullies can operate freely.

Yesterday’s news that Australian Cardinal George Pell, Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy at the Vatican, has been charged with sexual assault should open up a serious look at not just at the allegations, but more importantly at Pope Francis’s actions when it comes to charges of sexual abuse. It’s extremely alarming that Pell wasn’t thoroughly investigated before being elevated to cardinal. Given this continuing lapse in judgment, the Church shouldn’t dispense any kind of moral authority until it cleans up its own house. Small wonder that congregations are shrinking along with the Church’s ability to attract and retain candidates for the priesthood.

Photo credit: News.com.au

Bill Cosby to Teach Sexual Predator Wannabes How to Get Away With It

At times there seems like there are two Bill Cosbys. The first was THE comedian of the second half of the 20th century, the man who made everyone laugh with his bestselling comedy albums, reassured children with wonderful animated shows like Fat Albert and Little Bill, and inspired as the lovable Dr. Heathcliff  Huxtable on The Cosby Show. Who didn’t fantasize being invited to visit the Huxtable living room and listen to Christopher Plummer spout Shakespeare and B.B. King sing the blues?

Then there’s the current Cosby, the sexual predator who has been accused by 60 women of having drugged and sexually violated them. This is the Cosby who characterizes all of those women as liars and had the audacity to complain that former Pennsylvania District Attorney Bruce Castor reneged on his deal never to criminally charge him—even though that deal was illegal.  This is the sexual predator who wants to travel across the United States convening “Town Halls” on how not to get accused of being sexual predator. Or, as Christina Cauterucci on Slate put it—“Bill Cosby Wants to Teach Cheating Husbands and Male Athletes How Not to Get Accused of Rape.”

In other words, the real Cosby.

It should be clear by now that Cosby, like many sexual predators, is a bully. He attacks those who call him out with false accusations implying that his victims’ initial openness and trust was an invitation to sexual intimacy. And his talents at deflection would put Donald Trump to shame. According to attorney Gloria Allred who represents a number of women who have accused Cosby of assault, these proposed Town Halls are actually an insidious strategy. She recently told the New York Times that the “workshops appear to be a transparent and slick effort to attempt to influence the jury pool from which jurors will be selected for his second criminal trial.”

The only thing anyone needs to know is if you don’t want to be accused of sexual abuse—DON’T ABUSE ANYONE. These transparent attempts to turn his victims into villains and regain public sympathy are sinister and chilling.  

Andrew Faas is the author of From Bully to Bull’s-Eye: Move Your Organization Out of the Line of Fire.

Photo credit: MMM

Cosby Proves Once Again Bullies Turn Victims into Villains

We like to think that we’re a society that protects the vulnerable, but the continued power of celebrity bullies like Bill Cosby and Bill O’Reilly makes you wonder. Both bad Bills are fond of the bully’s favorite tactic—turning their victims into villains. In Cosby’s case it’s the brave woman who came forward to seek justice for being sexually abused. O’Reilly meanwhile is promising an all-out assault on those who put an end to his decades of misbehavior by promising an “exposé” of a “left-wing cabal”—just as soon as his current legal quagmire is finished, of course.

It makes me feel deeply that hope is in short supply when it comes to helping victims seek justice.

At least O’Reilly is widely known as a bully, braggart and blowhard. His ability to avoid justice has been due in part thanks to his late friend and fellow bully and sexual predator Roger Ailes, but the accusations against him have been no surprise.

This is contrary to Cosby, who was beloved by an entire generation for his clean humor, intelligent children’s cartoons and endearing turn as Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show. That’s why the revelation of multiple cases of rape and molestation has been such a shock. When America’s favorite dad turns out to be a serial sexual predator, how are victims expected to get any sort of closure?

This is where the justice system is flawed. More than 40 women have come forward with stories about being sexually violated by Cosby, but the trial allowed the testimony of only one of them. This made the trial a case of he said/she said without giving the jury the full picture. Why should they listen to a young woman against the word of the most lovable father figure of the 1980s?

The system is clearly stacked against people who are targeted, especially if they’re marginalized or not people of means. Tragically, this allows bullies to think of themselves as bullet-proof and continue their misdeeds. No wonder so many of us are losing faith in the justice system.

Photo credit: The Blaze/Getty

When Police Officers are Accused of Sexual Abuse, Trust is also a Victim

Why don’t people trust authorities designated to protect them? Perhaps the answer lies in yet another incident of sexual abuse by police officers, this time in Great Britain. The national watchdog group, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, revealed 426 accusations against English and Welsh officers over two years. Sadly, the victims were some of the most vulnerable people in society, including victims of domestic abuse, addicts and sex workers, many of whom were in custody at the time. By abusing their power this way, police officers are not only scarring their victims for life, they are also committing perhaps one of the most egregious ramifications of the government bully—the violation of the public trust.

Credit: BIGSTOCK

Ghomeshi's Acquittal

Photo via CBC

Yesterday, former CBC host Jian Ghomeshi was acquitted in one of two sexual assault cases that have been leveled against him. I’ve written about him previously, but for anyone not aware, Ghomeshi was not fired by the CBC for the alleged assaults against him. He was fired for harassment (sexual and otherwise) and bullying at work, which was validated by an independent investigation conducted by Janice Rubin. In her report, Rubin highlighted a “host centric culture” where Ghomeshi, and possibly other hosts, were able to abuse others with impunity. In fact, the report concluded that “CBC management condoned [Ghomeshi’s] behavior.”

To date, the CBC has not taken similar action against any of their other hosts. Ghomeshi may well fight his termination legally, and he could successfully argue that the real reason he was fired was the negative publicity regarding his sexual assault charges, rather than his behavior at work – behavior that other hosts have echoed before him and may well be continuing at this time.

The CBC would be wise to dust off Rubin’s report and take action against other hosts implicated in the report, in an attempt to avoid any successful attempts by Ghomeshi to challenge them. This would be a tragic outcome for those he abused at work.

Check out my previous blog posts on Ghomeshi for more commentary: 

• CBC's Host-Centric Culture Protected Ghomeshi for Too Long
• The CBC Ghomeshi Affair, A Predictable Outcome
• Comparing Entertainment Scandals Through Time