Road to Recovery Responds to the Case of Msgr. John Close of Philadelphia

Voice from the Desert
July 6, 2012

http://reform-network.net/?p=17307

Since 2007, Road to Recovery, a non-profit charity that assists victims of sexual abuse, has been advocating for Peter Schellinger, an alleged victim of Msgr. John Close. We have visited him frequently in the prison in Smyrna, DE, and have helped him present his case of sexual abuse to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on numerous occasions. Mr. Schellinger's story is compelling and credible.

We at Road to Recovery find it outrageous that two men who have claimed to be abused by Monsignor Close have been dismissed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia without any explanation or reason. Shame on Archbishop Chaput who clearly has not learned a thing about treatment of victims or transparency. We know that Chaput met with Close to deliver the "good news," but he didn't meet with the victims face to face to tell them what he had decided. This is cowardice all over again.

Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D.

Co-founder and President

Road to Recovery, Inc.

P.O. Box 279

Livingston, NJ 07039

862-368-2800