In Penn State, Some See Catholic Church Scandal Parallels

Nearly a decade and hundreds of miles separate Penn State from the clergy sex abuse scandal that erupted in Boston’s Roman Catholic archdiocese then spread nationwide, but those who lived through the church crisis see painful parallels.

At Penn State, school administrators, including a beloved coach known for his integrity, didn’t notify prosecutors when they learned years ago that former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky had been accused of molesting children. In the Archdiocese of Boston, the case of one predator priest led to revelations that for decades church leaders had moved guilty clergy among parish assignments without alerting parents or police.

Both cases have had consequences for administrators.

Boston’s Cardinal Bernard Law wound up leaving his post and, on Wednesday, Penn State President Graham Spanier and coach Joe Paterno were fired.

Failing to act thoroughly on abuse allegations has happened in organizations ranging from the Boy Scouts to elementary and high schools – even when the molestation occurs within families. Still, Boston-area Catholics can’t help but see some similarities between what they went through and what the Penn State community is suffering now. How could such respected leaders fail to take swift action to protect children? [more]

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