In the wake of the defence force Skype sex scandal, former diplomat Bruce Haigh made the simple but fundamental point that things start to go wrong when commanding officers lose sight of the reality that they are there to serve, and instead act to protect their reputations.
He put into context Defence Minister Stephen Smith's dressing down of military top brass:
[A]fter the Australian intervention in East Timor, Howard glorified the military … putting them beyond the scrutiny and accountability normally expected of public servants. He did the same with the Federal Police after 9/11. Howard encouraged the ADF to think of themselves as elite; Rudd and Gillard did nothing to reverse that.
Haigh's point holds true for leaders of institutions including unions and churches. Union leaders and bishops can be looked upon as demigods by members and the faithful. This makes it difficult for them to serve their constituencies. Servants need to be humble.
Bishop Kevin Manning suggests that the sex abuse scandals have paradoxically made the Church better able to do its job.
'The Church is shamed and humbled. But a humble Church can preach the Gospel more convincingly than one in whose halls abuse has been overlooked.'
When there's news of behaviour that is at odds with the fundamental values of an institution, the instinct of many leaders is to cover it up and carry on with business as usual. After all they are duty-bound to do all they can to protect the institution. It's usually specified in their employment contracts.
Haigh comments on military officers' reaction to the recent unacceptable abuse of the female student at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
Once the story broke, defence went into damage control. Senior officers, including the head of the ADF, Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston, sought to play the matter down, when what he should have done was to immediately front the media, condemn the appalling behaviour.
What happens to the institution once it goes public with its weaknesses?
Bishop Manning ponders whether a church ravaged by sex abuse scandals is fit to receive new members. He believes a humiliated church is an authentic church. He says adults embracing the Catholic faith 'cannot be doing this in ignorance of the sex abuse scandals' and the duty of Catholics 'is to welcome them into a Church that is humble'.
It is up to leaders to project images of themselves that are at once strong and humble. In the lead up