What Can We Learn from Penn State?

[mandym]

Unfortunately, that is the way it needs to be today, isn't it?

No it doesn't. That is over the top and unnecessary. There are plenty of safeguards out there rather than recording sessions.

 

[annsni]

No it doesn't. That is over the top and unnecessary. There are plenty of safeguards out there rather than recording sessions.

Such as?????

 

[preacher4truth]

Recording of sessions is the way to go. The counselee is simply told up front of policy (or may already be aware). This may also include witnesses, dependent upon the situation at hand.

 

[Tom Bryant]

According to the incompetent AG...and it was qualified with "for now". I'd be willing to bet he will be indicted and everyone who knew about it due to the national outrage taking place. Not reporting a crime IS a legal issue.

You maus know her better than I do. I have no clue about how competent she is. But she's already said that he was not a target.

Maybe PA will decide to save some face and indict Coach Paterno. I don't think they will... but I've been wrong before.

I certainly agree this is an outrage. JoePa still doesn't understand that he should have done more than the minimum required.

But there's lots in this situation that ought to make us ramp up our guidelines about this. I notice that that Dr. Mohler has changed the guidelines at Southern seminary concerning the responsibility to report. So there's probably some areas we need to inspect.

 

[Skandelon]

You may want to check your facts about this. Coach Paterno reported it and left it at that. There is nothing he is legally culpable for. Morally and ethically, he has something to answer for.

When I said "he" I meant all the leaders of the school who knew of this and chose not to report the pedophile to the appropriate authorities. For Joe to report it to his bosses and for all of them to decide to keep it internal in order to save face (aka Catholic Church) then all of them should be held accountable, IMO.

 

[abcgrad94]

Preventive measures are good, but I'd like to add something else. Have a back-up plan to help the victim in case something DOES happen. If something bad does happen, offer to pay for counseling for the victim OUTSIDE of church staff. Never, ever, get so secure in your preventive measures that you start to think "it can't/won't happen here." Always have a plan of action in case it DOES happen. Write it out now so it can be followed later if need be.