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ON JULY 18, FERNANDO KARADIMA was finally confronted in court by the four adults who had accused him of sexual abuses against them in their youth.

This could have been just like many similar cases in the Chilean justice system, except that the media covered this case extensively.  Throughout the case's media run, most journalists insisted on referring to the disgraced leader as "father", "religious leader", or "priest".  

Karadima was not, however, just another priest.  For 40 years, he was in charge of the Parish of the Forest, the primary church in the most well-to-do section of Santiago, where for years he formed young people under the auspices of the Catholic Action group.  

Only young men from good families participated in the Catholic Action program, which was a consuming experience where Karadima, their spiritual leader, would order their lives.  The group was of such influence that six of Chile's sitting bishops passed through its doors in their formation.

It came to light within the last year, however, that Karadima was also abusing the young men psychologically and sexually.

The most liberal press organizations quickly branded Karadima the "Marcial Marcel" (a priest in Mexcio accused of similar crimes) of Chile for having created something of a sect, complete with the sordid sexual deeds, and for the economic empire he forged in the process of carrying out his "religious task".  

But the media treatment of this case is unusual.  The Vatican conducted an ecclesiastical trial, and found Karadima guilty of abusing minors.  Still, the majority of TV channels continued to refer to Karadima as "Father Karadima" and offered valuable TV minutes and column inches to Karadima's devotees to defend him, among them well-known business people and politicians.

In a society such as Chile's, which is so marked by the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, the religious hierarchy becomes almost an expression of the authority of the state itself.  The cardinal is treated as a public figure.  Having a bishop in the family is a sign of good breeding, and very few would dare to dissent from what "the" Church decides or states publicly.  

In this sense, the work of journalists clashes with national habits and traditions.  In no way should one individual's wealth and power distinguish him from any other criminal without money or connections.  It is only very recently that the press has decided that Karadima is in fact just like everyone else: no longer untouchable.  The press has decided that Karadima did indeed take advantage of his position and his charisma to abuse young people, sometimes for years.

The lesson this case study teaches journalists is that we must not allow ourselves to be caught in these kinds of cultural traps.  Instead, we must respond only to the facts and nature of the story, especially when the story concerns a person of means, power, and position.  

And the facts say that the man is no longer "Father Karadima".  He is just Fernando Karadima, the priest who sexually abused his followers.