Sexual abusers protected by enablers
Abusers could not persist without enablers. Recently, we have witnessed an unprecedented number of revelations involving sexual abusers and their enablers. These revelations have included amateur athletics, the entertainment industry and the Catholic Church. A few examples follow.
In 2016, the Indystar published a series reporting that USA Gymnastics had for years failed to inform authorities about allegations of sexual abuse against its coaches. This reporting eventually led to the conviction and sentencing of coach Larry Nassar, longtime USA Gymnastics team physician and Michigan State University faculty member. Predictably, Michigan State, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee denied they helped cover up the abuse.
In October 2017, The New York Times reported that dozens of women had accused film producer Harvey Weinstein of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse over a period of nearly 30 years. More than 80 women in the film industry have since accused Weinstein of such acts. Weinstein could not have continued in his abuse without the aid of associates and staff who looked the other way.
Last month, a Pennsylvania grand jury report detailed sexual abuse by more than 300 priests in Pennsylvania’s Catholic Church. The report noted that internal documents showed that these “predator priests” had been accused of sexual abuse over many decades and that they had been protected by a hierarchy of church leaders who covered up the abuse.
Finally, it is worth noting that President Donald Trump’s abuse of the presidency and American values could not persist without his enablers — the Republican congressional leadership. These leaders are putting political party over country.