BishopAccountability.org
	York County Pastor: Conversations about Child Abuse Must Continue By Steve Navaroli York Daily Record November 18, 2011 http://www.ydr.com/sports/ci_19361486 While the Jerry Sandusky child-sex-abuse scandal has raised awareness for many who are advocates against child abuse, York City Church Pastor Aaron Anderson is concerned with how long those conversations will last. "It's a horrific crime, and nobody wants to think about it. That is what the Sandusky stuff has brought up," Anderson said. "What is going to happen is once the freshness of the stories die down that window will be able to close. "You will start to hear people say that is old news. Those kind of comments mask the reality that people don't want to talk about that." Anderson is on the advisory board of Prevent Child Abuse Pennsylvania, an organization dedicated to preventing all forms of child abuse: sexual, physical, emotional, psychological or neglect. He doesn't want the fervor to go away, citing the case of neighbor Darisabel Baez, the 2-year-old who was fatally beaten by her mother's boyfriend in 2008. "This happens time and time again where something horrific happens, and everyone wants to talk about it. The reality is, (Darisabel) gets mentioned once a year now," Anderson said. The 35-year-old sees his involvement as an extension of his work as a pastor. While it's not always easy for him to balance his work with the church, the organization and his five children, Anderson welcomes the challenge of helping put an end to child abuse. "Somebody has to speak out for the ones whose trust is being violated," he said. "We are trying to be a leader in raising awareness. Our organization's goal is to prevent abuse before it happens. Child abuse is the No. 1 health issue in the state and the nation, and it is preventable." Anderson is hopeful that both Penn State and The Second Mile, the organization founded by then Penn State assistant coach Sandusky in 1977, will be transparent in cooperating with investigators following the abuse allegations. He added that the public outcry in the Sandusky case is understandable. "There is a correct human instinct that we want justice done," he said. "But, it is not good enough to stop there. If (that happens) we will have failed again." snavaroli@ydr.com; 771-2060
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