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I tend to linger on what-ifs. It's a bit cathartic. Had the church done a transparent investigation (see my last what-if here: https://ruthhutchins.com/post/psa/ ), had it cleared J3, had John come clean at the beginning, I think he could have returned after doing the work w/family privately
Apologizing (properly) doesn't mean going into inappropriate detail. It doesn't mean making Johnny's name public. It doesn't mean debasing yourself either. I don't think most people would have judged John harshly. We're all human. And all the subterfuge could have been avoided.
What if John had apologized, really apologized? I think it would have been healing on so many fronts. Here's a stab at it (with the caveat I have to take educated guesses at John's thoughts).
... But the church decided to minimize and obfuscate instead. :( https://ruthhutchins.com/menlo/2020-01-25-ortberg-statement/
