Media Release – April 7-8, 2016

Road to Recovery
April 7, 2016

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AbuseTracker/road-to-recovery.org

Leaders of the Salesian Priests and Brothers have refused to settle a childhood sexual abuse claim against one of its priests, Fr. Joseph Maffei, SDB, causing the victim, who was abused in Indiana, to be re-victimized. The victim is being denied justice.

Fr. Timothy Zak, SDB, a leader of the Salesian Priests and Brothers, based in New Rochelle, NY, told advocate Dr. Robert M. Hoatson during a recent demonstration at a New Jersey church that the Salesians were settling the claim from a Salesian seminary in Indiana, but there has been no settlement and no settlement talks

At the “Will and Anthony” concert at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey, the Salesian Priests and Brothers will have another opportunity to keep their promise by announcing to concert-goers that they intend to settle the credible sexual abuse claim from Indiana against Fr. Joseph Maffei, SDB

What

A demonstration alerting high school parents, the media, concert-goers and the general public that the Salesians of Don Bosco, a religious order of men, have refused to settle the credible claim of sexual abuse in Indiana by a man who was promised a timely and fair resolution. Thus far, it has not happened.

When

Saturday, April 9, 2016 from 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM before the “Will and Anthony” concert

Where

On the public sidewalk across from the main entrance of Don Bosco Preparatory School, 492 North Franklin Turnpike, Ramsey, New Jersey 07446

Who

Members of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity based in New Jersey that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families, including its co-founder and President, former Archdiocese of Newark priest, Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D.

Why

A few weeks ago, Fr. Timothy Zak, SDB, a member of the leadership team of the Salesian Priests and Brothers of Don Bosco, approached Dr. Robert M. Hoatson at a demonstration at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Orange, NJ, and told him that there was no need for a demonstration outside Our Lady of the Valley Church or any Salesian parish or school (like Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ) because the Salesians were “in settlement talks” with two men who were sexually abused, one by Br. George Sheehan, SDB, and the other by Fr. Joseph Maffei, SDB. Fr. Timothy Zak was incorrect. While the sexual abuse victim of Br. George Sheehan received a settlement, the sexual abuse victim of Fr. Joseph Maffei, SDB, did not and has not received a settlement yet. No settlement talks have taken place in months, and no settlement has been reached. Demonstrators will demand that the Salesian Priests and Brothers do what they promised.

Contacts

Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., Road to Recovery, Inc., 862-368-2800