The Downfall of Patrick Brown and the Need for Safe Spaces

Last night Ontarians watched then Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown whimper his way through a denial of alleged sexual misconduct.  Looking shaken and disheveled, he promised to fight the allegations and vindicate his own character.  This morning we learned that he later resigned as leader.  The PC Party of Ontario must now choose a new leader just months before June’s election.  What happened should highlight a few points of biblical wisdom.

SOME SPACES WILL NEVER BE SAFE

Both of the anonymous accusers, one in high school and the other in university at the time of the alleged incidents, claim that Brown made unwelcome sexual advances on them while they were drunk and alone in the bedroom of his Barrie home.

When I started dating my wife, we were both seventeen-year-old high school students.  I went to her home, and her parents were upfront with me: “You’re not allowed in Joanna’s room.”  That was a smart move.  By doing that they not only drew some very appropriate boundaries, but they also taught their daughter, now my wife, that there are some places where she should not be found.

I’m not saying this to blame the women for Brown’s behaviour.  I am saying that some risks are not worth taking.  A young woman being alone in a bedroom with a man is never a good idea.   And it's worth using this story as an example to your children as to why that's so.

And it’s not just risky for women.  When a man isolates himself to be alone with a woman, he’s opening himself up to allegations.  Some spaces will never be safe.  

SOME BEHAVIOUR IS ALWAYS DANGEROUS

Both women were drunk.  They were out drinking with Brown, and then returned to his house drunk.  The Bible repeatedly warns against drunkenness to protect us from harm. When people get drunk bad things happen because drunkenness weakens our inhibitions.  As long as people have been getting drunk wicked men have been buying women drinks to weaken their inhibitions and get them in bed.  Let this stand as one more reason not to get drunk.  

This is worth pointing out to your children also.  Some behaviour is always dangerous.

GOD'S DESIGN IS THE SAFEST SPACE

What we are seeing is not only the implosion of a political career, but the results of the hook-up culture.  One-night-stands are common place, and that’s often why people go to bars and get drunk.  Now we’re seeing that bad judgment calls, raging hormones, and lots of alcohol are toxic not only to one’s own soul but also to one’s own career.

Sex outside of marriage is predatory, always.  By nature it is seeking pleasure without offering covenant safety.  Sexual immorality is always an attempt to use another person as an object for pleasure.  It's wrong.  It's selfish.

Marriage, by design, should protect women from assault and keep men from career-ending allegations.    When a married man and woman love one other and keep their marriage bed undefiled all fear of assaults and allegations vanishes.  Husbands are to love their wives and show them honour as the weaker vessel.  Women are to joyfully submit to and respect their husbands.  Both are to give of themselves to each other in love.  That’s God’s plan, and it’s beautiful.  Perfect love casts out all fear.  God's will is the safest space.

CONCLUSION

As it turns out, God’s commands are not meant to kill our joy but rather to keep us safe.  True liberty and joy comes within the safe boundaries of Scripture.  Some places will never be safe spaces.  Some behaviours will always be dangerous.  And marriage is the only safe space for sex.  Obeying God's commands is our safest place to be.  Patrick Brown’s run for premier is over, and let’s hope the hook-up culture ends soon with it.

[Updated: I've added another blog on this ordeal here: "The Player's Fear in a Post-Patrick Brown World."]