Managing a royal sex abuse scandal : how three religious traditions have dealt with the David and Bathsheba story

Managing sex abuse scandals is a challenge for many contemporary institutions, including churches, synagogues, madrassas, schools and youth groups. Some religious bodies, however, already have considerable experience in managing scandals" their sacred texts are full of dangerous stories that have shocked and challenged them over many centuries. The story of David and Bathsheba, for example, combines three themes central to the current crisis: sexual exploitation, abuse of power and attempted cover-up. This article provides an analysis of how three faith communities" Judaism, Christianity and Islam" have ʻmanagedʼ the story of King Davidʼs adultery with Bathsheba and the assassination of her husband, Uriah, and the subsequent litany of rape and murder (and possibly also incest) within the royal house. Davidʼs legacy is central to the three traditions: he is a founding father of Judaism, a forbear of the Christian Messiah and a prophet for Islam. Studies of individual delinquents document strategies of rationalisation, including denial of responsibility for harm, accusing the accusers and finding a ʻgreater goodʼ from the incident.