Devil's advocate - couldn't it have the opposite effect as well for cohesion? In absense of facts speculation can run rampant and the worst assumed. There is a difference between knowing someone is an asshole and thinking they might be a pedophile. Paranoia aside human heurestics can get it very wrong - the teens with the new dark music are evil criminals while the pastor is trustworthy except the teens are lawful and open minded towards things which don't harm others but have morbid tastes. Meanwhile the pastor is a serial sex offender.