Penn State scandal shows scope of sex abuse scourge, archbishop says

July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Penn State scandal shows scope of sex abuse scourge, archbishop says
Penn State scandal shows scope of sex abuse scourge, archbishop says


By Nancy Frazier O'Brien Catholic News Service

ALTIMORE - The scandal rocking Penn State University shows both the scope of the sex abuse problem and the value of safe environment training, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said at a Nov. 14 news conference.

Responding to a question following the first session of the USCCB fall general assembly in Baltimore, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York said the news that has led to the indictment of several Penn State officials and the firing of the university's president and its longtime football coach, Joe Paterno, "has reopened a wound in the church as well."

"It shows that the scourge (of sex abuse) is not limited to any one faith and certainly not limited to priests," he said. "It's in organizations, in universities, all over the place, in families and, yes, in priests."

Archbishop Dolan said the church's own sex abuse scandal "makes us a little timid about wanting to give advice -- glass houses and all that."

But he said the church's experience with providing safe environment training to help children and their parents, as well as clergy and church volunteers, become more aware of the warning signs of child sex abuse has been "phenomenally advantageous" over the past decade.

"We've got a long way to go, but we have made major strides," he said.

"One of the good things that God might bring out of this is some kind of alliance between the church and the educational community," he added. "We might come with a little wisdom earned the hard way to that table."

"To our deep regret we have not been a good example of how to deal with this in the past," the archbishop said. "We would like to be a good example in the future."

Archbishop Dolan offered "our love and prayers" to the sex abuse victims, their families "and the entire Penn State community."

[[In-content Ad]]

Related Stories

By Nancy Frazier O'Brien Catholic News Service

ALTIMORE - The scandal rocking Penn State University shows both the scope of the sex abuse problem and the value of safe environment training, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said at a Nov. 14 news conference.

Responding to a question following the first session of the USCCB fall general assembly in Baltimore, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York said the news that has led to the indictment of several Penn State officials and the firing of the university's president and its longtime football coach, Joe Paterno, "has reopened a wound in the church as well."

"It shows that the scourge (of sex abuse) is not limited to any one faith and certainly not limited to priests," he said. "It's in organizations, in universities, all over the place, in families and, yes, in priests."

Archbishop Dolan said the church's own sex abuse scandal "makes us a little timid about wanting to give advice -- glass houses and all that."

But he said the church's experience with providing safe environment training to help children and their parents, as well as clergy and church volunteers, become more aware of the warning signs of child sex abuse has been "phenomenally advantageous" over the past decade.

"We've got a long way to go, but we have made major strides," he said.

"One of the good things that God might bring out of this is some kind of alliance between the church and the educational community," he added. "We might come with a little wisdom earned the hard way to that table."

"To our deep regret we have not been a good example of how to deal with this in the past," the archbishop said. "We would like to be a good example in the future."

Archbishop Dolan offered "our love and prayers" to the sex abuse victims, their families "and the entire Penn State community."

[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Save the Date: Standing Together for Life Jan. 19
The second annual Standing Together for Life Jan. 19 will begin with Mass at 11 a.m. ...

Catechists affirmed, honored during Catechetical Sunday Masses
Catechists serving in the Diocese of Trenton stood up before their parish communities ....

Father Koch: Fairness and justice are seldom the same
Jesus tells a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven that ...

El Papa a los confesores, fieles: Perdonen siempre, como Dios
El perdón, recibido libre y constantemente de Dios...

Seminar puts a face on reality of human trafficking in Latin America
They were difficult stories for anyone to hear,...


The Evangelist, 40 North Main Ave., Albany, NY, 12203-1422 | PHONE: 518-453-6688| FAX: 518-453-8448
© 2023 Trenton Monitor, All Rights Reserved.