Jerry Sandusky and Penn State scandal

I was surfing through the television channels last night and I came upon a replay of an interview between Bob Costas, sports announcer, and Joe Posnanski, author of a new book on Joe Paterno, coach of Penn State from 1966-2011.  Posnanski told of having access to Paterno for the last months of his life and what his feelings were about this legendary coach who left himself wide open to charges that he allowed a now-proven sexual deviate, Jerry Sandusky, to be a part of his coaching staff and then remain a hangers-on to the program after his firing. 

 The author said:  "I believe Joe Paterno should have done more.  I 've told him that to his face directly.  You're Joe Paterno.  You're just expected to do more.  I don't believe he was involved in a coverup.  I don't believe that he did this to protect his legacy.  I understand that others do."

As a person who was indirectly connected with a University athletic program, and coaches, and sports information offices, I have trouble believing that there were not all kinds of people who knew what was going on (maybe hints or bits of pieces) but they had enough information to be watching for further signs that this assistant coach was bringing young boys into the shower rooms and showering with them and this word had to spread like wildfire through the players, the custodians and the security people as well as the graduate assistant coaches.   They would have all had eagle eyes about this man and his conduct after he was let go after an investigation.  In my un-eagle eyes, they could not possibly know how many people knew and looked the other way for their own reasons.   But does that excuse anyone from looking the other way?  Not in my mind!

Christ's teachings do not allow his followers to look away or turn a blind eye.  In a section of Scripture called "The Parable of the Judgment of Nations", Christ says it out loud and personal:

 

The King will reply:  "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me".  (Matthew 25:40)

 

Mitchell Lewis, a pastor, writes: "Let me get this out of the way at the beginning, sacrificial kindness to the poor, the weak, and the vulnerable is a virtue that Jesus raised to a new level in everything he said and did."    This did not include turning a blind eye to any vulnerable child by  anyone who sees such a cruelty happening!