BishopAccountability.org
	Our View: We Are All Responsible for Reporting Suspected Abuse Norwich Bulletin November 13, 2011 http://www.norwichbulletin.com/editorials/x1439490713/Our-View-We-are-all-responsible-for-reporting-suspected-abuse#axzz1daXk0APO Let us be clear on this point: Legendary football coach Joe Paterno is not a victim of the child molestation scandal that has engulfed the Penn State football program he guided for four decades. Paterno, the winningest coach in Division I football history, did the very least that he was required to do by law in reporting the allegations of sexual abuse of children by former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky to his superiors — and then he turned a blind eye and abandoned the very principle on which he built his program: Success with Honor. Nor are former university president Graham Spanier, athletic director Tim Curley or vice president Gary Schultz victims of the scandal that has rocked the prestigious university. As horrific as the charges against Sandusky are, the attempt to cover up the matter and the failure to notify law enforcement authorities is as bad or worse. And let us be clear on this point as well: What happened at Penn State is not an isolated incident. It happens every day, and everywhere. And it will continue as long as those who should speak up choose instead to remain silent. We've seen this before, and much closer to home, where institutions pony up multi-million dollar settlements to keep quiet the scandalous activities of those using their power and position to take advantage of unsuspecting and vulnerable children. Take for example the case involving St. Francis Hospital in Hartford and its settling of 32 lawsuits related to the late Dr. George Reardon, or the Norwich Diocese's payments of more than $4 million to settle lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by priests. We as a society can no longer condone the silence, whether it be from institutions or individuals. And we can no longer pretend that these despicable acts take place somewhere else. Because they don't. According to Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Eastern Connecticut Executive Director Georgette Katin, her agency provided services to 238 children younger than 18 from New London and Windham counties last year alone. As shocking as that number might be, that doesn't include the number of children being abused daily that never get reported. It's impossible to say precisely how many children are victimized by predators because statistics only take into account what is reported. Crime statistics, for example, are based solely on convictions, and yet only 29 percent of all reported sexual abuse cases are prosecuted. Ninety-five percent of all children sexually abused are victimized by either family members or individuals known, and trusted, by the families of the children. "That's the most difficult part for parents," Katin told us, "to learn that someone you trusted abused your child. People don't want to think that adults would do something like that." But it's not simply a matter of who would have thought someone could do something thing like this, but the idea that someone would allow it to continue by remaining silent. As a society, we can not condone the silence any more. Protecting the reputation of individuals and institutions such as hospitals, churches and universities can not take precedent over protecting the welfare of children. It's a responsibility that we all share. If you know of, or suspect, a child is being abused, then act. The crisis center hot line is 888-999-5545.
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