A cloud still hangs over the many institutional circles in which the Rev. Robert Carlson moved and worked. Rev. Carlson took his own life by jumping from the Penobscot Narrows Bridge two months ago. That sudden, tragic departure from a very active public life raised more questions than can be answered by the investigations launched by law enforcement agencies. Those investigations centered on allegations that Rev. Carlson had sexually molested a young boy.
On Saturday, the BDN reported more troubling allegations about Rev. Carlson. It seems the educational qualifications and achievements he claimed on his resume were exaggerated or fabricated. Yet on the other side of the scale, reported in the same news story, were some of the undeniably positive impacts Rev. Carlson had on the Greater Bangor area.
But should we evaluate people with such a scale? If their good, public deeds somehow outweigh or perhaps balance out their bad, personal acts, must we give such people a pass? Or should we judge such people even more harshly, and conclude they are wolves in sheep clothing, using their public persona to prey on the vulnerable?
Armchair psychologists might posit that seriously flawed men, who are tortured by their dark, private failings, are driven to balance the scales themselves. They work to build a legacy of good deeds and perhaps persuade themselves that these more than offset their private sins.
Every institution with which Rev. Carlson was associated must be reeling with each new revelation.
The integrity of those institutions likely will be questioned given their inability to see Rev. Carlson clearly. This is unfair. The general public will never know whether Rev. Carlson’s professional colleagues had doubts about him, whether suspicions were reported, whether he was dismissed from some posts when enough doubts were raised.
And few of us have the ability to peer into the soul of another human with any degree of clarity.
Too often in the past, educated, professional men with public stature were treated differently when suspicions were raised about them than when allegations were raised about uneducated, less polished men. This double standard has begun to fade, as well it should.
The final legacy of the tragic story of Rev. Bob Carlson is that we will and must be a little less trusting, a little more skeptical and a little more vigilant about those who present themselves as public do-gooders. We can hope the institutions with which he was associated are not tainted by his failings, but some fallout is inevitable.
Sadly, there will be no resolution. Some of those who revered Rev. Carlson will be devastatingly disillusioned. Some will be angry. Others will continue to see him as a force for good. Just as his secrets were locked away, the final analysis will be held in individual hearts and minds.
Great – how about you stop running stories about him now and let us get on with the job of forgetting him.
After the nightscreams continue for those whom he brutalized, the fears manifest for those he abused, and the childhoods altered through the trusts he manipulated, what remains are the dregs of an abuser -nothing more and nothing less. May only God perhaps have mercy for one who preyed on others in a selfish quest to satisfy himself. It would be more than he deserves.
nightscreams? Brutalized? I think you might be bringing some of your own personal energy into this story.
I spent 40 years as a professional, working with the victims of abusers such as Carlson. I assure you that nightscreams and brutalization are often the least of the results left upon those who have little defense against those who abuse. I didn’t feel the need in a cursory response to mention suicidal ideation, sexual promiscuity, blurred self-image, unsuccessful interpersonal relationships, and actual suicides. I assure you and any personal energies that YOU might muster that the 10-12 adolescent funerals I have attended following a life of sexual abuse trumps any flippancy you might choose to engage at this time. K
This coward of a man worked to build a legacy of good deeds to fool people, fool himself and even tried to fool God. I can honestly say I am very sick about seeing his face still in the newspapers and reading about him…especially the photo above of him with young boys. If you could please stop the articles or at least omit the photos…it would be a lot easier for everyone to move on………………………………………..
“The integrity of those institutions likely will be questioned given their inability to see Rev. Carlson clearly. This is unfair.”
Unfair? These institutions failed to conduct even the most rudimentary of background checks, in professions that demanded such checks.
Further, this editorial completely avoids the issue of why in the world this newspaper continues to refer to Carlson as honorable and good with the courtesy title “reverend.”
Excellent points Ryan. Perhaps someday the Bangor Daily News will have the journalistic integrity to answer those questions. I also take note of the paragraph that states, “Too often in the past, educated, professional men with public stature were treated differently when suspicions were raised about them than when allegations were raised about uneducated, less polished men. This double standard has begun to fade, as well it should.” Really BDN? Can you say with all honesty that you didn’t treat the Carlson stories differently then you have treated other similar stories. Your online editor William Davis not only censored comments on the comment boards, some of which I agree should have been censored, but also shut down the comment sections completely on all stories including the letters to the editor one night.
BDN will run this story until Vassalboro opens up there topless coffee shop again.Move on BDN move on.
“If their good, public deeds somehow outweigh or perhaps balance out their bad, personal acts, must we give such people a pass?” If the “bad” includes raping children that’s a pretty stupid question.
Although I find this editorial and particularly the accompanying photograph in poor taste, I must agree that the story bears repeating as a cautionary tale until the public stops giving these career con men a free pass. Certainly the “Reverend” Carlson’s resume lies echo the same deceit of Warren Cook, who is still, unbelievably, enjoying the exact same perks as if he were still a pillar of the community. I’m afraid the Old Boy Network may always be with us, but in this day and age there is absolutely no excuse for not confirming a job applicant’s credentials.
If he fudged his credentials,how come people still call him Reverend?
I thought it was a sin to take your own life? If Carlson was such a “good man” then why did he jump from the bridge? He must have re-examined the balance sheet, saw too many negatives, and figured the “jig” was up…
I hope it is only a joke, if a sick joke, that some powerful persons in the area are trying to get the Penobscot Narrows Bridge renamed in Carlson’s memory. Or, if failing that, to erect a statue to him at the structure’s base. Or, if that’s politically incorrect, to put up a plaque summarizing his good deeds. Amazing.
This picture is the most distasteful thing you could possibly run about this entire story. Imagine the parents of these children – wondering, just wondering – if he did more with those boys than his little slap-happy game? No one is ‘judging him (them) harshly’. Rather they are acknowledging that Harm has been done and consequences need to happen – which won’t happen now, except in the final Judgement if that is your belief system. If someone stole something from another person, and the person who stole had done alot of good deeds prior to this, we would still prosecute/seek justice for the harms incurred. We would not be afraid of naming this harm/malfeasance. The judge would probably not take into consideration all this person’s prior ‘good deeds’ if he did, in fact, rob a bank. No one is judging. If anything, they are trying to figure out for themselves how it is they could have allowed themselves to be duped/betrayed by this guy. What was it they trusted in him that allowed them to have their guard down, they ask? It is most likely the clergy collar….a wolf in shepherd’s clothing is the accurate analogy. It is not judging, either, but truth-telling and desiring that this person experience consequences for his action.
Your analysis describes the situation perfectly, as hard as it is for some to accept. The “good” that he did only makes the evil that much more despicable.
Did an EDITOR of the BDN write this? This is not meant as an attack, but it’s terrible writing!! Who reads/proofs the editorials before they are published?!
Many who were approached by RTC talked about this hand-slapping game. How nice for the BDN to remind everyone with a cheery photo of the famous pedophile with some local boys!
Considering the specifics of the allegations against Mr Carlson, I agree, the use of this particular picture was beyond poor taste. What were the editors thinking of to do such a thing? Is this supposed to be some sick attempt at humor?
No amount of “good deeds” could possibly atone for the rape of a child.
I suspect by now that Mr Carlson has found out if God will forgive him…….or not. I know I won’t.
I wish the paper would NOT show that man in the company of any child, in photos. How awful for the boy pictured here.
Not often I agree with you but you have this one right. or errrr… correct.
Seems like some of us are naive enough to not recognize a predator for what that predator was.
Lions, tigers, leopards, wolves, polar bears, etc. are all beautiful animals. Their sole purpose in the wild is to kill other animals in order to live.
The recent story of Jerry Sandusky has some parrallels to this story in that he too started a foundation that had everyone fooled. Too bad that his good works (probably by accident) are being abandoned because of his predation on young boys.
It seems that books need to be judged by more than their cover. It is way too easy for these predators to put on the mask of holiness and work their way into the positions of power over children.
Could you have posted a worse picture with this editorial? You spend time censoring the comment section but not your own content.
Please in future articles stop referring to him as “Reverend” because we don’t know if he actually earned that title. And in my eyes he does not deserve that title after what he has done.
It baffles me how some religious people I know will defend him. He may have done some good in his life but with everything that has come out and his admission of guilt by killing himself it is all for not. If he were not guilty of this act he should have fought it. He had the law enforcement and his faith on his side. What better back-up do you need. The man did what he is accused of!
Enough already….just when I think we can start to heal…the wound is opened again and again….I know you are trying to say something here…but the picture makes me sick I have seen it too many times and feared and wondered too many times….who else…who else…
I agree with you. There are more victims out there and this kind of journalism only prevents them from coming forward and speaking the kind of truth that sets you free..”Know the truth and it shall set you free”. How does this editorial help this pathway to healing? It doesn’t.
My day started with my partner, an incest survivor seeing this story at 5:00 AM. A very bad start to our day. No more Carlson!!
This editorial is pap, like so much of the BDN’s “opinion.” There is NOTHING redemptive in a man pursuing a career in a field, ANY FIELD so he can procure young children for his personal pleasure.
Scum is scum and no amount of polishing can change that.
Let’s try another angle here for BDN staff invested in this story…”If their good, public deeds somehow outweigh or perhaps balance out their bad, personal acts, must we give such people a pass?” What is the BDN’s honest response to this question if it was applied to the former IL Gov. Blagoyewich and Mr. Sandusky of Penn State, as well as many other public officials who have engaged in malfeasance of some kind? If Mr. Carlson was still alive, he would have (hopefully) been defrocked by his credentialing ‘agency’, ie, the Church, just like any other professional who holds a position of trust (health care provider, attorney, etc) and betrays it. Why are we still giving this guy the benefit of the doubt? This editorial is extremely offensive, and it only discourages other victims who might still need to come forward and heal from doing so. What was the purpose of this editorial’s position, after all?
Rownsull31, you ask a very important question in the last sentence of your posting. I think you answered it in your first sentence. People become invested in the things they do and the people they associate with and the jobs/endeavors they perform. As people that are invested, I think our egos protect us from seeing things that may be presenting them selves our causing us to ask questins about things that might not appear just right. As mature, independent, urbane, sophistcated etc people, many of us want to manitain these things intact. Unfortunately, it is the truelly mature, urbane, sophisticatted…., that have the rare ability to see things as they are or should be and then proceed to do the rigth thing.
He wasn’t a Reverand, he was a child molester, homosexual ( I know the difference between a molester and homosexual ), husband and stepfather. He aligned himself with self serving jobs. Nothing good here. He was a selfish man and what he did was for himself. I think the BDN should NOT report anymore on this monster and let peoples feelings calm down and go away.
I agree. Enough with Bob Carlson. It has been extremely upsetting to us incest/molestation survivors. Please be done with him.
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I disagree. There is no reason why the institutions that hosted Carlson’s act should not be investigated. There is no reason at all why those who suspected this creep of foul behavior should not come foreword. Institution coverups are everywhere, and I’ll bet there where many who saw thru this guy’s psychopathic personality AND reported it only to be rebuffed. Penn State and the Catholic Church are perfect examples. As are cops the army, the FBI and the CIA.
And the picture is perfect. That hand slapping game is always a way for sadistic adults to inflict a little pain and humiliation on children. They’re always good at it and kids trying it for the first time are not. It’s power trip and should have sent a red flag up. How can getting ones hand slapped ever be confused for fun?
My abuser (father) would sit on me as a child and tickle me until I couldn’t breathe. It was torture. It was never questioned as anything but good fun.
Funny you should mention that, my step grandfather who played the hand slapping game was also a tickler …. Just remember it. Interesting
With all due respect, if that whale Carlson sat on anyone it wouldn’t be tourture it would be attempted murder. What did they guy weigh, 3 bills?
If what is said about his scandals are true, then he was a bad person. Then, on top of that, he selfishly took his own life to avoid punishment?
I will not condemn the guy, but neither would I pardon him. I just wonder how a person can do these things; that is, to go so far in life and still do the wrong thing? His actions make no sense, but it does lead me to believe that evil does exist, and some times evil masquerades as good. Don’t be fooled, is the moral of the story. I guess…
In response to the editorial “The Rev. Robert Carlson” in today’s BDN, which opines about the age-old question of whether one’s good deeds outweighs or balances the evil within, I am truly amazed that many people, including the BDN, continue to view him as a kind of superhero in this community, that so many people were duped by this self-serving, egotistical man.
The editorial puts forth a reason for such people doing so much good to benefit others as a way to offset their dark, evil deeds. Why are so many people unwilling or unable to understand the immense power trip one has when swooping in to rescue those in need? The abuse of others is an abuse of power, and doing magnanimous deeds, such as Mr. Carlson did, was far more likely done in an attempt to enhance his own ego, and subsequent power, than to help others.
In response to the editorial “The Rev. Robert Carlson” in today’s BDN, which opines about the age-old question of whether one’s good deeds outweighs or balances the evil within, I am truly amazed that many people, including the BDN, continue to view him as a kind of superhero in this community, that so many people were duped by this self-serving, egotistical man.
The editorial puts forth a reason for such people doing so much good to benefit others as a way to offset their dark, evil deeds. Why are so many people unwilling or unable to understand the immense power trip one has when swooping in to rescue those in need? The abuse of others is an abuse of power, and doing magnanimous deeds, such as Mr. Carlson did, was far more likely done in an attempt to enhance his own ego, and subsequent power, than to help others.
In response to the editorial “The Rev. Robert Carlson” in today’s BDN, which opines about the age-old question of whether one’s good deeds outweighs or balances the evil within, I am truly amazed that many people, including the BDN, continue to view him as a kind of superhero in this community, that so many people were duped by this self-serving, egotistical man.
The editorial puts forth a reason for such people doing so much good to benefit others as a way to offset their dark, evil deeds. Why are so many people unwilling or unable to understand the immense power trip one has when swooping in to rescue those in need? The abuse of others is an abuse of power, and doing magnanimous deeds, such as Mr. Carlson did, was far more likely done in an attempt to enhance his own ego, and subsequent power, than to help others.
In response to the editorial “The Rev. Robert Carlson” in today’s BDN, which opines about the age-old question of whether one’s good deeds outweighs or balances the evil within, I am truly amazed that many people, including the BDN, continue to view him as a kind of superhero in this community, that so many people were duped by this self-serving, egotistical man.
The editorial puts forth a reason for such people doing so much good to benefit others as a way to offset their dark, evil deeds. Why are so many people unwilling or unable to understand the immense power trip one has when swooping in to rescue those in need? The abuse of others is an abuse of power, and doing magnanimous deeds, such as Mr. Carlson did, was far more likely done in an attempt to enhance his own ego, and subsequent power, than to help others.
In response to the editorial “The Rev. Robert Carlson” in today’s BDN, which opines about the age-old question of whether one’s good deeds outweighs or balances the evil within, I am truly amazed that so many people, including the BDN, continue to view him as a kind of superhero in this community, that so many people were duped by this self-serving, egotistical man.
The editorial puts forth a reason for such people doing so much good to benefit others as a way to offset their dark, evil deeds. Why are so many people unwilling or unable to understand the immense power trip one has when swooping in to rescue those in need? The abuse of others is an abuse of power, and doing magnanimous deeds, such as Mr. Carlson did, was far more likely done in an attempt to enhance his own ego, and subsequent power, than to help others.
I hope the victim, DB, can somehow have a life left. He will need huge help with his addiction, mental and physical state.
It is encouraging to see that no other children have come forward. Maybe he olny raped one small boy. Let’s hope the victim 40 years ago was the only one.
Why are you trying to publicly identify the victim?
My comments on this editorial unfortunately appear more than once. I apologize for this. When I tried to post it, I was given an error message.
The way “leadership” in Maine is handling this about par for the entitled class’s course. We have a Speaker of the House in Maine that bilked the state of around $1.2 million, a former turnpike authority head who pocketed $460,000 from the state, a prison warden is given a bargain basement price on real estate owned by the state in an obvious conflict of interest with impunity, and now Carlson.
When will the media in this state come to the realization that we are not just dealing with a few outliers, we are dealing with a crisis in leadership in Maine, a crisis caused and perpetrated by an entitled class of cronies each protecting the other’s back.
The author is wrong when he says “often in the past, educated, professional men with public stature were treated differently when suspicions were raised about them.” It is not in the past. It happens on a regular basis to this day. Does this paper actually think it can pronounce it into the past and the people of Maine will forget? Whose crony wrote this article?
Those of us who knew this man was a creep, may remember this photo. Look at his face, he looks physchotic. There is another photo, BDN could dredge up. I remember this one well. It appeared in the Weekly. It was Bob greeting Bill Clinton at the airport in Bangor. He looked as if he was salivating. It made me sick. I remember thinking, what kind of “religious leader” looks at Bill Clinton like that. If you look at some things/people Bob supported, you may question his moral compass. His moral compass was not functioning. He was like a magnet, causing other people’s morality to go astray. Would the BDN please stop referring to him as “Reverend,” it is disturbing.
There’s your link. Don’t see any drool.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=20060119&id=1IZhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Mi4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=2113,941955
The wise man sits outside the church on Sunday so he can get a good look at who will try to screw him on Monday.
I noticed similar pictures as not4us of Carlson in the BDN papers he had an”Uncle Festus” look from the Adams Family, it was disturbing. I always thought to myself that there was a problem here but of course kept to my own business. I notice too many things, but I have been around a long time watching and noticing people in government in Maine. Olympia Snowe comes to mind. She pushed hard for the National Defense Authorization Act signed by Obama, I think she wants military police to pick up and detain indefinitely any body who questions her legalities. We may need new legislation, call it the “Carlson Corrextion” act, to polygraph and drug test all of the State and Federal workers, including all members of Attorneys General. Deceit, betrayal, fraud are all too common. Caveat.
To those who continue to support Carlson: How can you condone his actions / behaviors? He was a narcissist who only cared about himself. He duped you with lies and deceit not to mention what he may have done to how many children. He stole the power from you and used it for his own devices. Every institution he was involved with needs to reassess itself and take appropriate action to prevent future damage.
I can have sympathy for those who have the terrible sickness of being attracted to young children, as well as other perverted feelings. Here’s the difference, This guy knew what he was doing was wrong, which is why he kept is secret. He should have removed himself from any job where he has access to children (“If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out” that’s from the Bible, “reverend”!). He should have also immediately sought help, but he didn’t.
what happens to all the couples he married? are they legit?
As half of one of those couples, I certainly hope so. I was so saddened by all of this; to hear how a man I respected so much and who played such a significant role in my life could have intentionally hurt a child. Won’t ever be able to watch my wedding video again.
what happens to all the couples he married?? are they legit?
All the couples he married are still marries….well at least the 53.7% that aren’t divorced.
In my very wise grandmother’s words: “If he sounds too good to be true, he probably is”
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Thank you for changing the picture. Many persons are grateful for this.
The good does not out weigh the bad in any way shape or form. This “good” can be very much used to groom victims. Did the “good” boys charity that Penn States Sandusky was involved in out weigh the bad? Also, if BDN is going to say that his qualifications were in question why not elaborate. If there is more to the story stop hiding it because your readers have a right to know as well as those who may have been duped by his lies.
A Trojan horse…….
Even the metaphor is sickening.
Be done with it BDN. Just be done with it!