On ethical and unethical behavior by religious and non-religious organizations

Several posts in the Religion Group recently have reported the firing of an executive of the American Atheists organization. Apparently, there was evidence of instances of financial and sexual behaviours that were improper by that executive. So, the organization has dismissed that executive, which was the proper and ethical thing to do. Since atheism is sometimes discussed in this group, "some few" members began threads about this firing. Apparently those posters did not understand the essential irony that was exposed.

Sadly, such posts about non-theist organizations were simply used as "what-about" attempts to divert attention from a long list of incidents where religious organizations did not behave in a proper and ethical way. For example, in recent years, one Christian denomination, the Roman Catholic Church, was exposed for institutionalizing extremely unethical treatment of many, many heinous offenders who sexually abused children for many decades. It has been major news for many years, and new evidence is appearing still on a regular basis. That the RCC, the largest denomination of Christianity, hid those offences and simply moved offenders around was the very definition of unethical behavior. In addition, it also was in violation of the teachings of that very religion.

There is no equivalence between a non-religious organization firing someone for misdeeds and a religious organization that hid child sexual abuse around the world for decades, or perhaps for centuries, as an institutional matter. The American Atheists did what all organizations should do, and demonstrated proper and ethical behavior. The Roman Catholic Church did what no organization should do. It behaved unethically as an institution. The RCC is paying dearly for it today. They could have avoided all of that by behaving all along in an ethical way that respected the law. They did not. Sadly, criminal convictions are often impossible, due to statute of limitations laws.

In many ways, the posting of such stories as this American Atheists firing simply illustrates the difference between ethical and non-ethical organizations. There is obvious and telling irony in that, but that seems to go unnoticed by those who post those stories here. That's hardly surprising, of course, but ironic nonetheless.

I'll continue to point out that irony, whenever it is appropriate.

In summation: The American Atheists organization behaved ethically in firing that executive on evidence. The Roman Catholic Church behaved unethically in not taking similar actions hundreds upon its employees hundreds of time over many decades. The two situations are not comparable in any way. The irony is obvious.