The dictionary says:
1580s, “discredit caused by irreligious conduct,” from Middle French scandale (12c.), from Late Latin scandalum “cause for offense, stumbling block, temptation,” from Greek skandalon “a trap or snare laid for an enemy,” in New Testament, metaphorically as “a stumbling block, offense”; originally “trap with a springing device,” from PIE *skand- “to leap, climb” (see scan (v.); cf. also slander (n.), which is another form of the same word).
This blog says:
Without a vigorous opposition and a free press, recent events in the Canadian Senate and the PMO would not have appeared to anybody – not even to the RCMP – scandalous.
