Jerry Sandusky and child molestation: Is there a pandemic in our society? Pt. 1

The outrage concerning former Penn State Coach Jerry Sandusky grows as quickly as the number of victims coming forward. Outcries for justice are flooding the media as Sandusky faces indictment on 40 counts of sexually abusing children and it may not end there.

If these allegations are true, then Sandusky would have reduced all of his accolades and achievements to nothing more than opportunities and motivations to continue his ulterior pursuits as a serial pedophile.

I never thought I’d hear myself agree (in part) with Sarah Palin, but certainly Palin’s comment "Hang him from the highest tree. I'll bring the rope," may be the sentiment of many parents.

There at least two things about Sandusky that anger me to no end – 1) that he may have done it and done it for so long, and 2) that he may have done it for so long without the authorities stopping him.

As a former Pennsylvanian and a parent, I am especially outraged that he was allowed to engaged in such ungodly felonious acts by The Powers That Be (TPTB) – all to protect the image of Penn State and their football program.

If murder is first on the list of the greatest of sins, then surely rape or sexual abuse of women, children, and/or the elderly must be the second or third greatest sin.

I don't need to show how wrong and evil pedophilia is from a Biblical standpoint.

Surely, this is among the greatest fears of every God fearing and/or decent parent and among the most detestable acts that a decent human being can imagine.

Yet, what should frighten every parent and grandparent is that there have been numerous reports flooding the news concerning adults committing this same type of horrendous criminality.

FOX 8 (WGHP) reported that just last month, 24 “of North Carolina's"worst child exploiters" have been arrested in a statewide crackdown on child exploitation”.

Computers were seized containing photos and videos of abused children, some as young as 3 years old, officials said.

According to the Salisbury Post, the 24 men were arrested and charged by different authorities in a collaborative sting named “Operation Spyglass”.

Both before and since Sandusky’s arrest, a number of other similar cases have been reported against other people in the same type of “trustworthy” positions working with children.

There must be a pandemic of child predators among certain adults in certain positions, who have opportunities to supervise children (both religious leaders and educators).

Child sex abuse reaches far beyond Catholic Church, experts say. Just read the various headlines below; these are but a few among a myriad of cases.

Ex-Sutton pastor charged with rape of girl from church - WORCESTER, MA. A former pastor Andrew J. Bierkan, 54, at the First Congregational Church of Sutton who now heads a church in Ohio has been indicted here on charges of unnatural rape of a child and posing a child in a state of nudity. He is now pastor of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Cincinnati, according to Worcester District Attorney John J. Conte. (Worcester Telegram & Gazette, August 13, 2003)

Church Worker, Coach Enters Plea In Sex Abuse Case - PORTLAND, OR. Church volunteer pleaded innocent to 26 counts of rape, sodomy and sex abuse. Derrick Mayberry was indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday and entered the plea on Wednesday. Mayberry, 23, was arrested May 15 on accusations of raping two teenage girls he met while volunteering at the New Beginnings Christian Center in northeast Portland. The victims were 13 and 15 years old. (KOIN TV, May 29, 2003)

Police seize videotape alleged to show sex with child.

Youth Minister Sentenced To Jail For Abusing Young Boys - A Clermont County youth minister has been sentenced to jail for sexually abusing teenage boys who were under his supervision during the year 2000. Anthony Waters, 35, of Williamsburg will spend six months in the Clermont County jail and will spend three more years under probation, supervised by Judge William Walker. (WCPO TC, Nov. 19, 2002)

Child molester pleads guilty - Milpitas, CA. A secretary to a LDS Bishop has admitted to sexually molesting four children, and will be sentenced to 14 years in prison. Craig Allen Harward, 54, pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of lewd and lascivious acts on children under the age of 14, and no contest to a fourth count of the same charge, Four of the case with the most convincing evidence involved four boys -- two of whom were 10, one 11 and another 13 years old at the time they were molested. (SAan Fransisco Chronicle, March 12, 2003)

Visalian who was a Jehovah's Witness leader accused by girl, 12. - Visalia, CA -- A 38-year-old Visalia man who was a leader in a local Jehovah's Witness congregation may face up to 16 years in prison on charges of sexually molesting a 12-year-old congregation member. Louis Anguiano served until last year as an elder at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses at 5310 Caldwell Ave. He is accused of continuous sexual abuse, over a two-year period, of a girl who attended the same congregation. (The Fresno Bee, January 30, 2003)

A Tulare County minister admitted to molestation charges on Monday. Sabala worked as a minister at the Four-Square Church in Dinuba. (ABC30.com, Jan 27, 2003)

Minister charged with child rape - New Bedford, MA. An Attleboro Jehovah's Witnesses minister, Ralph Heroux, 74, yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of two counts of rape of a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. (The Standard Times, Jan. 2, 2003)

Long Island, NY, James Taylor, also known as Bishop J. Andre Taylor among his Provision of Promise Pentecostal Church congregation, was charged with second-degree sodomy and second-degree sexual abuse. (Newsday, December 24, 2002)

Youth pastor charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor - SUMTER, S.C. - A former youth pastor here has been charged with forcing a 12-year-old girl to perform oral sex in a hospital bathroom, police say. Troy Glenn Clark, 34, of Lexington, N.C., has been charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor. (The State, Dec. 12, 2002)

The above information was compiled by Reformation.com ( http://reformation.com/CSA/allabuse.html ).

Of course, you remember the most highly publicized case of a similar nature involving Bishop Eddie Long, whose accusers settled with him and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church out of court recently.

And more recently in the news, last December, Tom Daniels, pastor of First Baptist Church in Rio Linda, C.A., was arrested and charged with committing lewd or lascivious acts with a child less than 14 years of age.

But the vile and despicable acts of sexual abuse with children extend into roles like that of Sandusky’s – that of teachers and coaches.

Who can forget the infamous Rowan County Middle School coach that choked a 12 year old player in front of numerous witnesses?

Then there’s the Westport, Connecticut Middle School assistant football coach accused of providing passwords for a pornographic website to his freshman players.

In my former hometown of Philadelphia, PA, an admired coach of a Catholic high school was arrested for providing alcohol to a 14 year old and sexually assaulting a 13 year old.

Nearly a week ago, a former Concord High School teacher was charged with having inappropriate contact with two of his female students.

Back in March of this year, a Charlotte teacher’s assistant was charged with making a sex video of a child.

In April, a history teacher at a Charlotte Military School was arrested for allegedly having sex and exchanging sexually explicit photos via texts with one of his students.

A website named Bad Bad Teacher.com (just celebrated 4th year online) is dedicated to exposing teachers charged with sexually abusing students and minors between 2010 and 2011. Their website posted the teachers’ names, at least two of which have pleaded guilty.

Among those listed were: a grade school teacher in Irvington, Maryland, a high school teacher in Sacramento, CA,, and a middle school vice principal from Pennsylvania,

The North Carolina Division of Social Services provides the following valuable information on their website, regarding child abuse:

“Recognizing Child Abuse”

The following signs may signal the presence of child abuse or neglect. It is important to note that any one of these things could mean anything or nothing. For example, there are many reasons a child may not want to go home on any particular day, or a child may be overly compliant when they are trying to please a favorite teacher. However, when you have a cluster of two or more of these, this should raise a red flag to at least talk to the child and/or parent, and at most call your local Child Protective Services. It is also important to remember that issues related solely to poverty are not considered child maltreatment issues.

The Child:

• Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance;

• Displays overt sexualized behavior or exhibits sexual knowledge that is inconsistent with their age;

• Has not received medical attention for a physical injury that has been brought to the parents' attention;

• Has learning problems that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes;

• Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen;

• Is overly compliant, an overachiever, or too responsible;

• Comes to school early, stays late, and does not want to go home; or

• Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes;

• Has bruises or marks in non-prominent, “fleshy” areas of the body (for example, inside of biceps or behind the knees);

• Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school;

• Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home from school;

• Shrinks at the approach of adults;

• Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver.

The Parent or Other Adult Caregiver:

• Shows little concern for the child, rarely responding to the school's requests for information, for conferences, or for home visits; denies the existence of or blames the child for) the child's problems in school or at home; asks the classroom teacher to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves; sees the child entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome;

• Demands perfection or a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve;

• Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child's injury;

• Describes the child as "evil," or in some other very negative way;

• Is abusing alcohol, prescription drugs or illegal drugs and that abuse is having an adverse impact on the child;

• Uses harsh physical discipline with the child; or

• Has a history of abuse as a child. (NC DSS: About Child Abuse and Neglect)

If you know of a child that may have been sexually abused, please, please call Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina at 1-800-CHILDREN or 1-800-4-A-CHILD (a National Child Abuse Hotline).