A culture of corruption?

by Letters Editor · August 16, 2012

From Wesley Seale, Antwerp, Belgium

Recently much has been said and written about corruption in the public sector. A number of civil society conferences have taken place whereby corruption has been unanimously condemned. Among others, religious leaders have been rather vocal in this condemnation.

"...if there is a huge challenge with corruption within the public sector then it is almost certain that corruption is a challenge in the entire society."

Yet hardly anything is mentioned about the notion that corruption is systemic. It is a cancer in a society and the public sector, given its nature, is the one organ of society where this cancer is most evident.

The public sector is part of, not apart from, society. Social scientists have alerted us to the fact that if there is a huge challenge with corruption within the public sector then it is almost certain that corruption is a challenge in the entire society.

Civil society conferences will therefore do well to examine their own constituencies and try and curb a culture of corruption there first. This will surely go much farther than simply condemning public sector corruption. Are we even open to suggest that there might be corruption in the Church?

Condemnation of the public sector is the easy option. It is easy to challenge elected officials and call for them to be accountable. But surely all those who hold office should be accountable; especially the unelected ones? Ah, I suppose that�s what we have God for. Really?