A week of high profile cases, was justice really served?

This week has been full of verdicts in child sexual abuse cases. Many of which took years of abuse to finally put a stop to. In both cases this week the accused abusers were powerful, rich, and thought they were above the law. Both of the accused, and now convicted abusers hid behind long standing institutions that entire communities entrusted with their children. One hid his troubles behind the robes of priesthood, while shuffling pedophiles around like a game of chess, leaving broken children in their wake like pawns. The other hiding behind a long beloved school and football team, using the guise of helping the underprivileged.

Jerry Sandusky, long hailed football coach was taken out by accusations from former victims. In the midst of his denial came scathing charges against other individuals who were told about the abuses and did nothing. He didn’t even lose his job, didn’t have any sanctions placed against him, no pay cut, no loss of privileges in having access to facilities he was using to abuse these children. His wife swears she never knew, never suspected, despite one of their own adopted children coming forth and admitting he too had been molested by him. Somewhere along the way she knew. She said nothing, and she continued to allow him to abuse other children. She can say what she wants but money can cover a multitude of sins, can’t it. She lived in her palatial home surrounded by prestige and rights afforded her while children suffered, including her own.  Ones she went before a judge and adopted, promising to protect them, provide for them, shelter them. So did Sandusky, we see how that went. 48 counts lodged against him total. 45 convictions on those counts, an entire school system wiped down by the fall in the ranks. A once well known, beloved coach whose history is now wiped out in the aftermath of revelations that came with this. That he knew and said nothing. All the wins in the world can’t change that truth. I have to wonder if it would have made a difference had the children he abused been of the more affluent kind. Had they been children of parents that donated to his football program and his salary. I think at that point it still would have been kept on the down low, someone paid off in a back alley to stay quiet. So yesterday justice was somewhat served, he was found guilty and is facing 442 years in prison. There is already talk of placing him in separate area to ensure his safety in the prison system. Somehow I think he needs to be with the regular population and face his guilt. Just like those children have had to face the world every day of their lives since he abused them. How they have walked through life holding this abuse in facing people while feeling like everyone can see their shame, like the actions of what happened in those showers and basements are imprinted on them for all to see. They didn’t get to be separated from everyone else, though many may have withdrawn they still faced life day by day with a shield up and ready to run. Why should he get protected? Does that make any sense: I mean really sure go ahead mess with dozens of kids lives and when you get caught we are going to protect you, feed you , give you access to cable television, medical care for the rest of your life. How is that fair? So his victims will now continue to pay for his living with their hard work and taxes. That is not justice. If we have to pay for his incarceration then it should be in the general population, let the chips fall where they may. Don’t want your ass whipped, I would suggest don’t do things that lead you to be the lead bitch for Bubba in prison.

Monsignor William Lynn was convicted of one count of endangering the welfare of a minor. ONE COUNT. We do not know how many kids in how many parishes suffered at the hands of Catholic priests that he covered up by transferring the priest to a new parish when the abuse was made public. If he knew and said nothing he is as guilty as the priests who committed the offenses. Period. They found him not guilty on conspiracy, which totally blows me out of the water. How was he NOT conspiring to continue the pattern of abuse against children? He willfully and knowingly transferred priests who were abusing children allowing them access to new victims. He conspired to continue the abuse just as sure as the abusers sexually molested those children. To say he didn’t is not justice. What sickens me the most is he his behind the doors of a church to do it. He walked out of court removing his robes of rank but keeping on his clerical collar. At that point the church diocese should have removed that as well. Don’t  hide behind the sanctity of religion ,robes, collars. Man up. What part of the bible where Jesus says that a man who hurts a child is inviting the wrath of God upon himself. For such is the KINGDOM OF GOD. So abusing your privilege and power by abusing a child God has basically removed your power and position. You are not better then the rich man who cried out to Lazarus from the pits of hell begging for a drink of water.

In the midst of all these high profile trials we learn of a father who killed the man he caught raping his 5 yr old daughter. Read that again he CAUGHT the man in the act. The individual was an employable immigrant who he had employed the year before to work his farm. Hearing his daughter’s cries for help the man followed the sound and found the employee with his pants down raping his child. What followed was an enraged father serving his own kind of justice. He proceeded to beat the man until he could not get up. Once he calmed down he called 911 where he can be heard frantically screaming they need to hurry up or the abuser will die. I am not sure I would have been that concerned at that point. There are moments I am not even sure I would have called the law. The man lived in the middle of nowhere, who would have known? But when push came to shove he was better then the abuser and called the law. What amazed me is that he was even arrested for the crime of murder. They found the abuser with his pants and underwear by his ankles, his daughter was visibly abused and was taken to the hospital for treatment, and her father, who rescued her was arrested for murder. I am sure he would have gone to jail for the rest of his natural life in that moment. But the option should have never even been considered. He did what he did to protect his CHILD. One would hope any other parent would do the same. A grand jury refused to prosecute him, go figure. The fact that he had to even spend 10 minutes in jail, while individuals like Sandusky and Lynn were allowed to continue living free on our dime, sickens me. It’s time we started prosecuting and punishing the abusers and not the victims. It just is.