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  Oprah Debuts Part Two of Sexually Abused Men, Local Oshkosh Man at Show

WFRV
November 13, 2010

http://www.wfrv.com/news/local/Oprah-debuts-part-two-of-sexually-abused-men-local-Oshkosh-man-at-show--107591348.html

On today's Oprah it was part two of her series with 200 men who were molested. Tonight, we have the second part of our story with an Oshkosh man who was in Oprah's audience.

At the age of 15, Kevin Kratsch was too much for parents to handle.

"When I was 14 I was expelled from Oshkosh High School because I got involved with drugs, alcohol and a woman who was 18," said Kratsch.

Kratsch's parents decided to give legal guardianship to a priest at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Plymouth.

Father Charles Bartholomew was known for helping turn around troubled teens and Kevin enjoyed his first two weeks with him.

"He was a kind, decent, intelligent, loving man who made me feel wanted," said Kratsch.

Once the legal guardianship papers were signed Kevin says Father Bartholomew became sexual and violent with him.

"I saw that he drank a lot and when he drank a lot is when he became abusive," recalls Kevin.

Kevin says Father Bartholomew also shared him with another priest. Donald Shissler was convicted in 2007 of sexually assaulting three other boys and sentenced to 210-years in prison.

Bartholomew died in 1985 after leaving the priesthood when Kevin was 18.

"I found out later that he was defrocked and fired by the Episcopal Church for abuse allegations," said Kratsch.

Because of all that has happened, Kevin has been seeing a psychiatrist he says the church pays for. He doesn't blame his parents for what happened and has even forgiven the priest.

"They were sick individuals and I've worked through counseling."

Kevin was one of the 200 men chosen to be in the audience for the Oprah two-part special on male sexual abuse. The staff picked Kevin from thousands after receiving a 6-page letter from him.

Now Kevin's mission is to help others dealing with the same situation.

 
 

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