MEDIA RELEASE – APRIL 13, 2016

By Robert M. Hoatson
Road to Recovery
April 13, 2016

http://www.road-to-recovery.org/

Three criminally indicted Third Order Regular Franciscan priests, Rev. Giles A Schinelli, TOR, Rev. Robert D’Aversa, TOR, and Rev. Anthony M. Criscitelli, TOR, all of whom were major superiors and supervisors of their religious order based at St. Bernardine Monastery, Hollidaysburg, PA, will face a Pennsylvania judge at the first hearing on their cases of child endangerment on Thursday, April 14, 2016, at 9:30am, in Blair County Courthouse, Hollidaysburg, PA

After dozens of children were sexually abused by Br. Stephen Baker, TOR, over the course of several decades, after years of cover-up and mismanagement of allegations of sexual abuse against Br. Stephen Baker and possibly other Third Order Regular Franciscan Friars by major superiors and supervisors of the Third Order Regular Franciscans, and after two suicides in the Monastery of St. Bernardine, it is time for the Third Order Regular Franciscan Friars of St. Bernardine Monastery, Hollidaysburg, PA, to admit their guilt, apologize to their victims and families, work with criminal authorities, and agree to be monitored by a truly independent agency

What A press conference alerting Catholics of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, residents of the Altoona-Johnstown area, the media, and general public that it is time for the Third Order Regular Franciscans of St. Bernardine Monastery, Hollidaysburg, PA to “come clean” in every way regarding the sexual abuse of children by members of their monastery and those who enabled it.

When Thursday, April 14, 2016 after the court hearing

Where On the public sidewalk outside the Blair County Courthouse, 423 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg, PA

Who Dr. Robert M. Hoatson, Co-founder and President of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity based in New Jersey that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families; and, Barbara Aponte from Poland, Ohio, and mother of Br. Stephen Baker suicide victim Luke Bradesku from John F. Kennedy High School, Warren, Ohio

Why Br. Stephen Baker, TOR, a deceased member of the Third Order Regular Franciscans of Hollidaysburg, PA, was allowed for decades to sexually abuse minor children while his superiors and supervisors looked the other way and enabled his sexually abusive behavior to continue in Virginia, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, at least. Dozens of young lives and their families’ lives were forever altered by Br. Baker’s sexual abuse, and at least one of Br. Baker’s victims, Luke Bradesku, took his own life as a result of the sexual abuse he experienced. Frs. Schinelli, D’Aversa, and Criscitelli were Br. Baker’s major superiors and supervisors for decades and continued to assign him to Catholic schools and parishes despite knowing about his sexual abuse of children. Demonstrators will call on the Third Order Regular Franciscans to: admit their guilt, apologize to their victims and families, work with criminal authorities, and agree to be monitored by a truly independent agency.