Paterno’s got 15 years on me, but sex was not talked about between parents and children when I was a boy. I went to the parish Catholic school and my sex education came from a priest, actually an Army Airborne chaplain. Boys and girls had separate classes starting in the fourth grade.
We went on several trips with priests - to the Passion Play, to the Maryknoll seminary, etc. - and there was NEVER any hint of sexual perversion. Did it go on? Maybe. Did it ever come out? Never.
So, I can understand Paterno’s response. I don’t approve, but I can understand.
I, too, had a pretty sheltered Catholic childhood - created and sustained by ADULTS. But when I went into the playground or spent my summers on hot city streets playing stickball, I certainly picked up a lot about sex from the other kids. Most of it wrong, of course, but I knew something was going on.
And for a guy who has spent God knows how much time in locker rooms, this is really hard to believe.
“Paterno’s got 15 years on me, but sex was not talked about between parents and children when I was a boy.”
Every once in a while, among all of the HATE Paterno posts, I see a post that contains a reasonable thought.
I will agree with folks who say Paterno SHOULD have known better. I happen to think he, and MANY of his generation, have a huge blind spot when it comes to sexual abuse between a man and a boy. It is something a Father of a small boy can hardly think about. It is that terrible. I think Paterno couldn’t quite take the truth of it in. I would bet, to this day, he doesn’t believe a Priest could do something like this. The truth, when it comes to this subject, is hard to process.
I don’t think Paterno is evil. Sandusky is evil. Paterno is someone who stayed way too long. He is, and has been, out of touch. I blame his family for not seeing this. He should have been done coaching years ago. Who is surprised that an old man, who’s highest priority in life is football, handled this situation so poorly?
Anyone connected to PSU in a capacity over the past 10 years to remove Paterno, should themselves be removed.
What adult son or daughter will allow their half blind, half deaf, partially crippled, impaired thinking parent, to continue driving when it is no longer safe for them OR for the other people on the road?
Someone who knows better has to take the keys away.
Name ONE person at PSU who knew better? Paterno was an accident, a poor decision, a lapse in judgement, waiting to happen.