The Sandusky Case

Like every mother reading about Jerry Sandusky and the Penn State coverup I am sickened and angry. There are so many questions that need to be answered in this case and I hope it is blown wide open to reveal exactly how this man was able to have access to young boys for so long, even with eyewitnesses who saw him abusing them.

In addition, Sandusky was able to adopt six children (which means social workers approved his homestudies, *see also an earlier blog entry on the joke that homestudies are) and work in a group foster home. The same year he was abusing children, Rick Santorum honored him with a Congressional Angel in Adoption award. Santorum has since said he did not even know Sandusky. (see Demons in Adoption Awards here: http://poundpuplegacy.org/demons_of_adoption_awards)

I wish I could say this is unbelievable, but it isn’t. We live in a system and society that continuously puts children at the bottom of our priorities. We like for everything to look shiny, ignoring the uglyrealities that should be dealt with. We look the other way when children’s lives are being destroyed. In this case, college sports was more important than protecting children.

In the child welfare world, people who are like Jerry Sandusky and his wife are all-too-prevalent. This is another terrible commentary on what people choose to believe. Take a look at our How Could You files to see just how prevalent this kind of behavior is. It’s the truly terrifying story of The Pedophiles Next Door.

I hope to see a full and comprehensive inquiry into who aided and abetted this man. I want to see all of those involved sanctioned, arrested if appropriate, removed from their jobs and any contact with children, and stripped of the awards bestowed upon them after they became aware of Sandusky’s revolting crime. (See Tim Curley: www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-09/penn-state-s-curley-stripped-of-award.html)

I want to know what measures were taken or not during Sandusky’s foster licensing evaluation and homestudy process. The social workers who approved and abetted this deranged pedophile must answer some tough questions. Even better, let’s tighten up the process to weed out more abusers.

I also want to know why his wife is reported to have visited one of the victims and what was her involvement in this. I refuse to believe that she wasn’t aware that something untoward was going on over the years.

Most of all, I hope I live in a society that will finally wake up and start demanding better for our most vulnerable children. It is the least we can do for them.

REFORM Puzzle Piece