The Sentencing of Jerry Sandusky

National Survivor Advocates Coalition
October 10, 2012

http://nationalsurvivoradvocatescoalition.wordpress.com/editorials/

Yesterday helped.

The sentencing of former PennState assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and its accompanying media coverage sharpen the focus of the criminality of sexual abuse and its consequences for society at large.

Nothing returns a sexual abuse victim's normal childhood and for their testimonies about what was so viciously and cruelly taken from them, the survivors of Jerry Sandusky deserves everyone's gratitude for their courage.

Justice has been served but no one should believe that this solves the problem of sexual abuse in sports – or in the Roman Catholic Church and other denominations – or in the Boy Scouts. Secretive, powerful, hero worship laden organizations are fertile ground for perpetrators.

Children are protected only when strong, clear messages, like the Sandusky sentence, are sent. Then and only then will those who have been raped and sodomized feel that there will be more comfort than censure from the world if they do find the strength to come forward.

The sentencing, coincidentally but appropriately, set in the midst of the college football season is a time for all of us to resolve once again to protect children and provide access to justice for all victims of child sexual abuse – no matter the age when they make public, in small or large forums, the burdens and scars they bear.

That means in Pennsylvania and throughout the country statutes of limitations must be extended and windows must be offered for access to justice for those for whom the current statutes have passed.

That means the major opponents of this kind of legislation, Roman Catholic bishops, should use their throne chairs to sit these battles out instead of coming out swinging with every bit of ammunition in their arsenals and then some.

The Sandusky sentencing should place in clear relief the cowardly duck, deflect and dodge that continues to be the business as usual approach for the Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph Robert Finn – and his silent and impotent brother bishops, including Pope Benedict.

Criminally convicted Bishop Finn, who failed in his civilly mandated duty to report suspicion or knowledge of child pornography by one of his priests, remains in office.

His brother bishops are silent about it.

His Pope does nothing.

Had the Church acted more forcefully to shield the children and not the perpetrators in the Boston eruption of the scandal it is possible that some of the Sandusky victims could have been spared their lifelong horrors.

There is consequence when institutions do right and when institutions do wrong.

One day of justice does not the right world make.

But one day of justice lightens the darkness.

Contact: KristineWard@hotmail.com