Joe Paterno: Protecting a Predator
I just finished the Grand Jury’s report on the Sandusky trial, plus the narrative of Bob Costa’s interview with him.
It makes my stomach hurt.
From the Grand Jury Report (click here to view the full report):
- Involved boys from “The Second Mile”, a group foster home for troubled young boys.
- Sandusky had access to hundreds of boys, many of whom were vulnerable due to their social situations.
- 8 Victims included in the Grand Jury’s Report (rest assured, more will come forward)
- Victim 1 was 11 or 12 years old (this was an oral sex case).
- Victim 2 was 10 years old (caught being raped in the shower by Sandusky)–Coach Paterno and the Athletic Director were informed of this one in March of 2002 (nearly 10 years ago).
- There are 6 more victims (so far).
“Grace is messy.”
“Radical grace.”
“Grace is free.”
“Sloppy grace.”
We’ve said it and read it all.
It sounds SO good.
It feels so good.
Until kids are hurt and predators are protected…
Then what do you do?
These little boys were raped.
You can say “molested” if it somehow makes it seem less cruel or harsh, but these boys were raped. They were sodomized by a man who was respected and trusted in the community.
And people knew about this mess, or the allegations, for (apparently) several years.
It pisses me off.
This is this time I want to take the gloves off, tell Jesus “I got this one”, and take somebody down a dark alley with a baseball bat. And I have more than one idea on how to use that bat.
Really? “Grace is free” for this guy?
These men who made a god out of football, to the extent that little boys (many of whom are now young men) will NEVER be the same…they’re entitled to that same grace?
Are you freakin’ KIDDING me?!
People of the Second Chance said this:
Coach Paterno has been a fixture of college football for 45 years and holds mythic status for his leadership, skill, and, ironically, his values. He is the most “winningest” college football coach ever, with over 400 career wins as a head coach. He is a father figure to hundreds of former players, and a voice of authority to tens of thousands of fans.
But, if the allegations prove true, his legacy is forever tainted by his involvement and coverup of the scandal. His coaching philosophy, his memorable quotes, and his familiar likeness will never be looked at the same again. And that is there we should begin our coversation on scandalous grace.
What becomes of a life’s work if it is tainted by a tragic end? What is the value of a career’s worth of wisdom if the wise man finishes as a villain? And where does that leave us, as relentless dealers of grace and second chances?
The Bible says in one place that it’s how you finish the race of life, not how you start. (1 Cor. 9:24)
Question: So is JoePa finished? Done? Not another chance? “Burn, baby, burn!”??
Then in another place, we read this, “Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people-free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!” (Ephesians 1:7 MSG)
So is there another chance for the Coach? According to the above Scripture, because of what Jesus did, we are FREE from penalties and punishments.
Ok, one more…what do you say to this:
So, since we’re out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we’re free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it’s your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you’ve let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you’ve started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom! (Romans 6:15-18 MSG)
What’s your answer?
Cliche’ as it may be, “What Would Jesus Do?” with Joe Paterno?
What would YOU do with Coach Joe?
How do we, as givers of radical grace and second chances deal with this one?
–Steve
*Be sure and check out the other POTSC blogs…JUST CLICK HERE.
People of the Second Chance gives voice to a scandalous awakening of receiving, giving and being a second chance person—one who embraces one’s scars with guts while moving forward in life, rebels with grace rather than justice, and advocates a second chance for the lost and forgotten.
Overthrow judgement. Liberate love.
About Steve Austin
I am thankful I am not The Judge.
I’m thankful that I’m not either.
I third that one. It’s out of all of our hands.
If there is one truth about sin, it is this: No matter the offense, it’s all black, dark, murky and separates us from God. If GRACE can’t reach, even what we consider to be the worst of sins, then it can’t reach the least of sins. We have a habit of putting sin on a scale of 1 -10, one being the least and ten being the worst offense. God has no such scale… SIN SEPARATES, BLOOD BUYS, and GRACE GATHERS…
SIN SEPARATES, BLOOD BUYS, and GRACE GATHERS…
Amen! Love this quote!
I’ve been thinking a lot about this one, especially since Paterno’s recent death. I want to put this one in the second chance, Christian perspective, and I’m having a hard time getting there.
Where was the second chance for all these victims? This “pillar” of the community, role model and modern day hero was absent when these victims needed him the most. When they were being raped, where was he?
In his own admission in his last media interview, he could have and should have done more. But a football legacy was clearly more important than the lives and well being of these children. It’s all so difficult to stomach.
I feel for Paterno’s friends and family, and the community at Penn State. I am sorry for their loss. But I believe as Christian bystanders to this story, the victims are the ones deserving of our compassion. There was no compassion for them for far too long.
Matt, believe me, there is a side of me that would have responded the same way years ago. I am a victim. I know the pain.
But just because the victims need our compassion, you are saying none should be shown to the guilty ones?
Hi Steve,
I want to be real careful how I answer you here. I am well aware that the Christian thing to do is to show Paterno our compassion too. I am willing to admit that I’m human, and not completely there yet. I think that’s the crux of the whole debate.
These victims had no choice in the matter. They did not choose their fate from Jerry Sandusky. Paterno, the AD, and anyone else who may have had knowledge of this situation and did little to nothing to stop it made their conscious choice. They witnessed things, or were told by reliable sources what was going on, and elected not to do anything about it, in order to protect their football legacy.
I am a big fan of the idea of grace. We’ve all done something at some point in our lives, where we could use some. And I know it’s not supposed to be an incremental idea. No matter the sin, we’re supposed to open our hearts and forgive.
I still feel that by forgiving those involved at Penn State, you are doing a disservice to the victims, however. It’s a pretty gray area for me.
Hi Matt
I agree that the victims are the ones who deserve our compassion. And I have a very hard time with showing compassion to the ones who hurt the boys, especially Jerry Sandusky. But that’s where God comes in. Because He gives grace when it is NOT deserved. Because He IS unconditional love. (Now I’m not meaning God doesn’t provide justice and consequences- He does) I just know that I can’t give this kind of grace or love without letting God do it through me. I just can’t. So all we can do as Christians is know we are all works in progress who thankfully have the Holy Spirit to help counsel, guide, and lead us to be more like Him. And step out of our comfort zones when He leads us to uncomfortable places.
The cool part is that even when we fall short in forgiving someone or having compassion for someone, God gives us grace and second chances too!! AMAZING!
I just don’t want to see any Christians condemning themselves or judging themselves because they just can’t do or give something they think they should. Only God is perfect and only He can perfect us. :-)
Wow. Amen.
Matt–what she said. :)
Thanks to you both for stopping by!
Thanks Steve, and thanks Barbara. This is really the perfect example of grace. I’ve been mulling this one over since Paterno’s death a few days back. On my Facebook stream, there were several posts that simply said “RIP JoePa” and things of that nature.
The sinking reactionary feeling I had in my stomach pretty much told me where I stand. I agree, I don’t think people should condemn themselves for feeling this way. I’m comfortable with it, because I’m not the one making the final judgement. Thankfully.
I’m not throwing stones on the attack. But I’m definitely in the corner with those who were wronged.