November 14, 2011
Christ United Methodist Ministry Center
“Christ in the Heart of San Diego”
3295 Meade Avenue
San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 284-9205
[First, let me invite you to our Thanksgiving Lunch next Thursday from noon to 2:00 PM. This year’s meal is being prepared and served by Christ Kitchen. Invite your neighbors. Volunteers are needed, so contact Pastor Steve Snyder, Chef Tony or the church office if you would like to help.]
Pastorgraphs: “Moral Responsibility”
The stomach-turning news out of State College, PA last week exposes moral bankruptcy in our society. While I know there is much yet to be unraveled, this story is important and must be addressed…by all of us.
At its core, the sordid story reflects lack of integrity, both personally, professionally and collectively. It reveals how out-of-whack our principles and values are.
If the stories are correct, and already we are sick of hearing the sordid details, a young assistant coach witnessed a child being raped by another assistant coach and did not try to stop it. He apparently did what was “minimally responsible” by reporting it to his father, who in turn did what was “minimally responsible” and reported it to Coach Paterno, who did what was “minimally responsible” and reported it to the Athletic Director who…well you see the pattern.
Result: Nothing happened and children were continually placed in harm by the collective failure to take moral responsibility.
Lesson to learn: Doing what is “minimally responsible” is not the same as doing what is “morally responsible”. Looking the other way, and saying it’s not my responsibility is a total lack of integrity.
The time has come for college sports to take a hard look at itself.
· When protecting the institution or the sports program (the cash cow) is more important than protecting innocent, vulnerable children, then evil has won.
· When personalities (Bear Bryant at Alabama, Bobby Knight at Indiana, Joe Paterno at Penn State) become bigger than the institution, that says everything about the institution…and OUR VALUES!
· When the head coach is paid millions and the physics professor barely makes $75,000, something is out of whack. (Is it all just about money? “Say it ain’t so, JoePa.”)
But the time has also come for each of us to look at ourselves as well. What would (and should) we do if confronted by similar circumstances?
Truth is, we all face matters of integrity every day. How we deal with our moral choices tells us much more about ourselves than what we think and what we do. It speaks to our core: who we are.
May God give us strength and courage to do the morally responsible things each day of our lives.
Devotedly,
Parson Bill
From the Quote Garden
“Do the right thing, for the right reason, in the right way, at the right time.”
~ Integrity Society LLC
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