The National Review Board has issued its report on sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests. Now we can ask the tough question: why did the bishops ignore, and hide, this ugly reality for over 20 years? There will be extensive commentary on the causes, much of it dedicated to demonstrating that the reforms of Vatican II were – or were not – responsible. Since I report as an observer at the "intersection between church … and business", I suggest a different perspective.
Business schools are dedicated to teaching executives how to improve personal and organizational performance. For example,Sidney Finkelstein, at Dartmouth, has conducted extensive case studies of how successful exucutives ignored reality until they failed. Hard working and intelligent executives fail, he suggests because:
- of a flawed mindset that distort a company’s perception of reality
- delusional attitudes that keep this inaccurate reality in place
- breakdown in communications systems developed to handle potentially urgent information.
- leadership qualities that keep a company’s executives from correcting their course.
In the March 12 issue of Commonweal Andrew Greeley suggests, “Many in Rome and elsewhere contend that the Church does not need social science because it has the Holy Spirit.” Greeley is correct. The Church could set aside its internal doctrinal controversies and examine its leadership failures. Barring a miracle, it won’t.
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