Society is finally holding ‘untouchables’ accountable

“The day will come when you think you are safe and happy, and your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth.” — Tyrion Lannister, a character on the HBO hit “Game of Thrones”

It was a fall from grace long in coming. Still, Bill Cosby’s plunge from America’s Dad to convicted sex offender is stunning in its breadth and in the message it sends.

The message is that wealth and celebrity are no longer impenetrable shields for those who abuse others. And it’s that while the powerful have often enjoyed impunity for their misdeeds, all it takes is one brave soul to stand up and tell the truth to begin chipping away at that shield. Eventually, it crumbles, and those who were once untouchable are forced to face the consequences.

Those in power would do well to heed the warning. After all, just five years ago, who would have thought that someone of Cosby’s stature would be convicted of three counts of aggravated indecent assault? The 80-yearold is on house arrest and faces up to 30 years in prison.

It’s difficult to reconcile the man who skyrocketed to fame portraying Dr. Cliff Huxtable — the wise, compassionate, lovable husband and father — with the man accused by more than five dozen women of drugging and assaulting them. But then that’s the point.

People like Cosby have gambled on the belief that anyone making allegations against them won’t be believed. They have gambled on the fact they hold most of the cards and can make life difficult for anyone who comes forward. And on the belief their money, celebrity and influence would protect them.

That gamble paid off for Cosby for decades. But in the end, he lost — his reputation is a smouldering pile of ash, and there’s a good chance he will also lose his freedom.

Horrifying stories have emerged about the comedian. Twelve jurors found him guilty last week of drugging and molesting Temple University women’s basketball administrator Andrea Constand in 2004.

Cosby isn’t the only celebrity to be caught up in scandal over allegations he preyed on women. Film mogul Harvey Weinstein’s life is in shambles after several women accused him of sexual harassment and assault spanning decades. He, too, believed he was untouchable.

Closer to home, we’ve seen the dozens and dozens of lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, accusing it of looking the other way for decades as pedophile priests preyed on young boys and girls in their parishes.

Archbishop John C. Wester did the right thing last year when he released the names of 74 clergy the archdiocese said had been credibly accused of sexually abusing children, together with an apology to survivors. He still needs to make good on his promise to update that list with names of the parishes where the 74 worked, and he should include when the priests were at those parishes.

It’s important to recognize that the pendulum could just as easily swing to the other side where innocent people’s lives are ruined by a false accusation and a bandwagon mentality. Like jurors in a courtroom, we owe it to the person making the allegation and the accused to judge each case based on its unique set of facts.

But there is a common denominator in all three of these scandals. People in power thought they were above the law and untouchable.

They may have gotten away with bad behavior for decades, but in the end, the truth emerged and their lies came crashing down because their victims — one by one — had the courage to demand justice.

They held the “untouchables” accountable, and we are all better off for it.