The people of Spokane have displayed a variety of reactions to the scandals at City Hall, the diocese and Morning Star Boys’ Ranch. Some are shocked. Some are ashamed. Some are angry at the institutions. Some are angry at the messenger. Some are angry at both.

At a time like this, the slogan for the Aspen (Colo.) Times is perfect: “If you don’t want it printed, don’t let it happen.” Some people would like to think it’s more complicated than that. But it really isn’t.

The latest controversy centers on a revered local institution: the Morning Star Boys’ Ranch, which is designed to help boys between the ages of 10 and 17 who have fallen into trouble or may be headed that way. A ranch spokeswoman said recently that the boys are “to be protected and that was the mission of Father Joe and the staff.”

“Father Joe” is the Rev. Joseph Weitensteiner and, according to public records and interviews with former ranch counselors and residents, he sometimes had a brutish way of carrying out that mission.

Many people have rushed to Weitensteiner’s defense, saying that he has turned boys around and saved them from a life of crime. But Weitensteiner has yet to defend himself against the ugly incidents that have been reported. The ranch won’t even confirm or deny whether accusers were residents.

It won’t work to circle the wagons. As always, the truth will emerge and that can be the only path to healing. Just like the diocese, the ranch has many proud accomplishments, but those good deeds should not be used as a shield against possible misconduct.

Corporal punishment was accepted in the 1970s, but distinctions need to be drawn between spankings and paddlings in a controlled environment and flat-out beatings. Looking back, the easy access of a pedophile priest, Patrick O’Donnell, to boys at Morning Star is very troubling. So is the lax control over who could remove boys from the premises.

The sheer number of people who could’ve intervened but didn’t is disturbing. Instead, it looks as if some authority figures took advantage of the fact that such wayward boys would never be believed.

The ranch may continue on in denial, but the state cannot. It was a few short years ago that the state made its final payment to victims in a sexual-abuse scandal at a state-licensed boys ranch in Olympia. All told, 51 victims collected $22.3 million. The state should launch an immediate investigation.

Yes, this is painful, especially on the heels of Spokane Mayor James West’s problems and diocese’s bankruptcy filing. But the darkness can’t be lifted by pretending it isn’t there.