Penn State Sex Abuse Scandal Leaves Parents  And Community  In Shock

Every day I come across at least one disturbing news story that makes me want to hug and squeeze my kids a bit tighter at night. But the latest news about the Penn State University sex abuse scandal brings my mama-bear instinct to soaring new heights. In case you haven’t heard, the scandal involves retired Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, who’s been charged with sexually assaulting eight boys over a 15-year period beginning in 1994.

According to reports, one allegation against Sandusky is that he assaulted a boy in the shower at the team’s practice center in 2002. (Though he retired in 1999, Sandusky continued to use the school’s facilities where the assaults allegedly took place for his work with The Second Mile, a foundation he established to help at-risk kids.)

There are also perjury charges against Penn State’s athletic director Tim Curley and VP of finance and business Gary Schultz for failing to alert police and other agencies of their investigation of the allegations after an eyewitness report (this is required by law). Both men stepped down from their posts late Sunday, one day after the charges were announced.

Nitanny Lions coach Joe Paterno called the charges against Sandusky shocking.  “If this is true, we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families,” he said in a statement. “They are in our prayers.”

Honestly, there are no words to explain the scope of these allegations and how the victims must be coping. It’s just shocking that something like this could happen in the first place, and then the notion that no one bothered to call authorities brings it all to a whole new level. It’s sickening to even think about.

(Photo: huffingtonpost.com)

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