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The Tragic Lessons of Penn State — A Call to Action
Albert Mohler blog ^ | November 11, 2011 | Dr. Albert Mohler

Posted on 11/11/2011 8:45:57 PM PST by This Just In

The Tragic Lessons of Penn State — A Call to Action

What would prevent this scandal at your school or church? Thursday, November 10, 2011

No one thought it would end this way. Joe Paterno, the legendary head football coach at Penn State University heard of his firing by the school’s board of trustees by phone last night. Just two weeks after achieving the most wins of any NCAA Division One football coach in history, Paterno was fired. His firing — a necessary action by the Penn State board of trustees — holds lessons for us all.

Almost a decade ago, a graduate assistant told Coach Paterno that an assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, had been observed forcing a young boy into a sexual act in the school’s football locker room showers. Sandusky was himself a big name in Penn State football, and he was considered a likely successor to Paterno if the head coach had retired. Sandusky also ran a non-profit organization for boys, and he brought the boys onto the Penn State campus. He continued to do so even after his own retirement from Penn State’s coaching staff.

After hearing the report, Paterno informed university officials of the accusation. At that point, little or nothing seems to have happened. The scandal broke into public view last Saturday, when Sandusky was arrested and charged with 40 felony counts of sexual abuse involving young boys. Penn State had been harboring a serial child sex abuser. Also arrested were the university’s athletic director and its senior vice president of business and finance. Both were charged with failure to report the abuse and with perjury.

(Excerpt) Read more at albertmohler.com ...


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From the article:

"But the world has not only changed for college athletics. The detonation of the Penn State scandal must shake the entire nation into a new moral awareness. Any failure to report and to stop the sexual abuse of children must be made inconceivable. The moral irresponsibility that Penn State officials demonstrated in this tragedy may well be criminal. There can be no doubt that all of these officials bear responsibility for allowing a sexual predator to continue his attacks."

1 posted on 11/11/2011 8:45:59 PM PST by This Just In
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To: This Just In

Dr. Mohler also stated:

“The moral and legal responsibility of every Christian — and especially every Christian leader and minister — must be to report any suspicion of the abuse of a child to law enforcement authorities. Christians are sometimes reluctant to do this, but this reluctance is both deadly and wrong.”

I strongly disagree with Dr. Mohler’s suggestion that we must “report any suspicion....”.

The act of reporting suspicious behavior has been perpetrated and encouraged by government agencies for years now despite that fact that in America, you’re innocent until proven guilty. A criminal report is supposed to be filed if you’ve witnessed a crime, and not because you THINK you’ve witnessed a crime.

However, in the case involving Penn State, there’s no question that crimes were committed.


2 posted on 11/11/2011 8:51:28 PM PST by This Just In
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To: This Just In

Excellant stand by a church leader...

” We all need an immediate reality check. I discovered yesterday that the policy handbook of the institution I am proud to lead calls for any employee receiving a report of child abuse, including child sexual abuse, to contact his or her supervisor with that report. That changes today. The new policy statement will direct employees receiving such a report to contact law enforcement authorities without delay. Then, after acting in the interests of the child, they should contact their supervisor. “


3 posted on 11/11/2011 8:58:14 PM PST by Recovering Ex-hippie (Rick Perry 2012)
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To: This Just In

Welcome to America without Biblical morality!

http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/175/examining-greek-pederastic-relationships

...The ideal pederastic relationship in ancient Greece involved an erastes (an older male, usually in his mid- to late-20s) and an eromenos (a younger male who has passed puberty, usually no older than 18) (Dover, I.4.: 16).

This age difference between the erastes and the eromenos was of the utmost importance to the scheme of the ideal pederastic relationship. The power dynamics involved in such a relationship, with the erastes always in control, ensured that the erastes kept his dignity as a fully-functioning member of Greek society, while the eromenos grew up under the tutelage of such a man and as such could become a great citizen when he reached adulthood...

..Ideal pederastic couples were ones whose relationship directly benefitted their Greek society. Another important reason for the age difference between the erastes and eromenos was that the older male was responsible for teaching the younger male about Greek politics, military, and social gatherings (Hubbard, Introduction: 12). The ideal erastes was meant to be more of a teacher than a lover.

The eromenos would receive this training in exchange for the sexual favors he provided to his erastes. Also important to the ideal pederastic relationship was the fact that the eromenos supposedly did not enjoy the sexual actions that he performed with his erastes, adding to the idea of the older male acting as a teacher: “Boy, my passion’s master, listen. I’ll tell no tale/That’s unpersuasive or unpleasant to your heart./Just try to grasp my words with your mind. There is no need/For you to do what’s not to your liking” (Theognis, 1235-38: 40)...


4 posted on 11/11/2011 9:04:00 PM PST by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: This Just In
What I want to know is, where are all the men? I don't mean long haired, tattooed, narcissistic spoiled brat athletes and their money grubbing handlers, I mean men who by nature will protect the weak. Men who would risk their lives to protect a child. Men whose blood boils at the thought of monster rapists. Where are they? What have we become?

Our Country will not survive without real men who will do what is right without fear.

5 posted on 11/11/2011 9:05:56 PM PST by Prokopton
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To: This Just In

You are incorrect.

Reporting an allegation-—an allegation means even the possibility you think a child may be in an abusive situation or abused—is not “guilty before an arrest or trial”.

Any licensed professional (doctor, licensed mental health professional, nurse, ) MUST REPORT THE SUSPICIAN OF POSSIBILITY OF ABUSE at the risk of losing their license. The person does not themselves decide if the possibility is warranted. Many professionals are not even clear about that.

The report can be made to an anonnymous Hotline in every city. There is then an investigation, a formal investigation either by child services or the police.The number of false reporting is actually very small in comparison to the number of child abuse realities. The fact of reporting the incidence then creates at least a trail of reports, adjuticated or not, that would hopefully serve notice to authorties that several reports (often from many different persons) have been made.

The layperson is not mandated to report.

Again, the statistices show that a child that has been abused has told at least on average SEVEN adults about the abuse before something is done.


6 posted on 11/11/2011 9:07:43 PM PST by Recovering Ex-hippie (Rick Perry 2012)
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To: Prokopton

They think “its none of my business” or they are afraid.
Yes those types lack the courage to stand up to protect children.

To be a moral person also carries with it a duty to protect.

we are in a society that “doesn’t judge”...a society where there is no more “bad” behavior. Just look at Occoupy Wall St...insane “tolerance” of uncivil behavior, rapes and assaults..now even murder.


7 posted on 11/11/2011 9:11:25 PM PST by Recovering Ex-hippie (Rick Perry 2012)
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To: This Just In

My, my. Mohler is horrified. Everyone should know that Mohler was not long ago castigating Baptists for the non-sin of “homophobia”. You see, Al and his friends that pushed through the Great Commission Resurgence need the SBC to be “hip” so that membership will stay up by attracting young people who’ve been brainwashed about the sodomite lifestyle by the government schools that Baptist pastors and leaders love so much. He also wanted to avoid having Southern Seminary seem “icky” to the kids he tries to recruit.

Now that the public is reminded that sodomites do what sodomites do, Mohler is so much on the side of the angels that he is urging a reign of terror by informants. It doesn’t occur to Mohler that going to police with the merest suspicion will ruin the reputations of innocent people. The notion of “evidence” doesn’t factor into Al’s thinking because he doesn’t want to be responsible for making at least a few inquiries and he certainly doesn’t want to do the most effective thing of all - getting sodomites out of our institutions and keeping them out until they true repent and give up the “lifestyle”.

If someone engages in the sodomite lifestyle he needs to be excluded from the church and every other organization. In fact, sodomites belong in prison, which they may enjoy. A true “win-win”.

Perhaps Mohler ought to retract his previous smear and admit that he is unqualified to speak on this issue.


8 posted on 11/11/2011 9:13:21 PM PST by achilles2000 ("I'll agree to save the whales as long as we can deport the liberals")
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie
They think “its none of my business” or they are afraid. Yes those types lack the courage to stand up to protect children.

Then they are not men.

9 posted on 11/11/2011 9:15:12 PM PST by Prokopton
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To: jjotto

Pederasty/homosexuality is prevalent in Muslim countries also—but they don’t label it “homosexuality”. The “joke” is: boys for recreation and women for procreation.

Pederasty was rampant in all societies....it was Judaism and Christianity which made homosexuality and pedophilia a sin which changed Western Civilization. But maybe in the Masonic/Satanic/pagan cultures which have rampant homosexuality, there is—like this Penn State thing—and you have the Franklin Cover-up and there was also John Maynard Keynes, the elite sodomite/atheist who passed little boys around at his parties according to Worldview.com.

At least ancient Greece educated the boys in war and politics so they could be “useful” citizens. The homosexuals today use them and destroy them.


10 posted on 11/11/2011 9:16:17 PM PST by savagesusie
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To: achilles2000

Your accusation is complete bovine scat. You’re lying. Or perhaps you can provide us with some hard evidence.

We’ve followed Dr. Mohler’s program, and ministry, for years. There is not one instance which supports your accusations.

Sounds like your personal preferences are getting in the way of civil discourse.


11 posted on 11/11/2011 9:18:49 PM PST by This Just In
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To: achilles2000

You have it all wrong on the notion of “evidence” in these situations.

1. You notify the authorities of suspician.
2. The situation is investigated .
3. IF there is concrete evidence, the person is charged.
4. The person is then tried and, if guilty, found innocent.

In this case the authorities were notified, they did not investigate significantly nor did they press charges.

BTW..this is also a problem for girls that are molested, ie Planned Parentood, teachers, etc.


12 posted on 11/11/2011 9:20:43 PM PST by Recovering Ex-hippie (Rick Perry 2012)
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To: Prokopton

I agree completely.


13 posted on 11/11/2011 9:20:53 PM PST by This Just In
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie

You’re focusing on the “allegation”. I highlighted Dr. Mohler’s comment concerning, “suspicion”.

Ask any retired law enforcement officer who served over 25 yrs. ago (including my family) and they’ll tell you that a “suspicion” of a crime didn’t mean didley, as it should.

If my child fell and pumped and bruised his head while in the yard, should I be reported because some teacher notices the bruise? No.


14 posted on 11/11/2011 9:25:44 PM PST by This Just In
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To: This Just In

No but if someone caught you red handed bashing your kid then ya...someone caught the guy flat out in the shower


15 posted on 11/11/2011 9:28:53 PM PST by skaterboy (Hate=Love....Love=Hate)
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie

I don’t have it wrong. Mere “suspicion” could be anything. Do you have any idea how many false rumors are deliberately started about people? Do you realize that suspicion could result from someone just thinking that so and so isn’t “quite right”?

Let’s put it this way, “methinks you protesteth too much”. Consequently, I suspect you are a child abuser. Now all I have to do is find your identity and contact the police with my suspicion so that they can interrogate you.

What could be wrong with that scenario? It’s for the children, after all.


16 posted on 11/11/2011 9:31:01 PM PST by achilles2000 ("I'll agree to save the whales as long as we can deport the liberals")
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie
we are in a society that “doesn’t judge”...a society where there is no more “bad” behavior.

Change that to the past tense and you've got a very likely epitaph for Western Civilization.

17 posted on 11/11/2011 9:31:31 PM PST by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
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To: Prokopton

I was wondering today, did the boys in questions have fathers around? I’m not casting any blame, but I wonder if these predators look for boys with no father to protect them. I know if someone did this to one of my kids and my husband found out...well, I would still be visiting him in jail.


18 posted on 11/11/2011 9:33:46 PM PST by brytlea (An ounce of chocolate is worth a pound of cure)
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To: This Just In

“What would prevent this scandal at your school or church”

Since Al is a Calvinist, his sub-title is irrational. In his theology no human activity could either prevent or cause anything... Calvinist are only Calvinist in theory...in real life they are always trying to change/prevent/alter/manage things...hehehe.


19 posted on 11/11/2011 9:35:12 PM PST by reflecting
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To: skaterboy

“...someone caught the guy flat out in the shower”

Yes, which is why heads should have rolled years ago. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more witnesses to these sexual assaults. Paterno should be ashamed, as well as all others involved who failed to step forward and report the crimes. They are all culpable.


20 posted on 11/11/2011 9:37:01 PM PST by This Just In
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