Sandusky Psu-like Situations in SBC Churches

By William Thornton
SBC Plodder
July 13, 2012

http://sbcplodder.blogspot.com/2012/07/sanduskypsu-like-situations-in-sbc.html

Clergy sex abuse is one of the main subjects that occupy my thoughts and blogging that is not strictly an SBC matter. I read a good bit on such things and occasionally write about it partly because of the appalling ignorance and ineptness among pastors and churches in handling such things.

Yesterday, the lengthy, near exhaustive, independent report on the Penn State, Jerry Sandusky, Joe Paterno child sex abuse scandal was released. It has some jaw-dropping information.

Consider this paragraph:

"Our most saddening and sobering finding is the total disregard for the safety and welfare of Sandusky's child victims by the most senior leaders at Penn State," Freeh wrote. "The most powerful men at Penn State failed to take any steps for 14 years to protect the children who Sandusky victimized."

And this:

"None of them [Joe Paterno and other PSU leaders] even spoke to Sandusky about his conduct. In short, nothing was done and Sandusky was allowed to continue with impunity."

Wait a minute. Joe never sat Jerry down for a talk, to ask questions, to issue warnings?

Shocking.

The preference, apparently, was for the old ship keep sailing along smoothly. No boat-rocking (or possibly sinking) scandal must be allowed because the cost to the football program and university would be too great.

No one followed this by saying, "...and to hell with the children being abused" but it is impossible to conclude that such was the attitude of leaders.

Not us. Not the church. Not the called ministers of the Word.

I wouldn't make that bet.