MEDIA RELEASE - JULY 2, 2016 – ROAD TO RECOVERY, INC.

Road to Recovery
July 2, 2016

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

Danielle Polemeni, a courageous childhood sexual abuse victim living out of state, returns to the New Jersey town and parish (St. Cassian’s, Upper Montclair, NJ) where she was repeatedly sexually abused by Fr. Michael “Mitch” Walters to discuss the abuse she experienced and encourage others who have been sexually abused to come forward and speak the truth

Fr. Michael “Mitch” Walters, a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, is accused of sexually abusing a minor girl at St. Cassian’s Parish, Upper Montclair, NJ; four (4) minor male children from St. Cassian’s Parish, Upper Montclair, New Jersey (Essex County); and one (1) minor male child from St. John Nepomucene Parish, Guttenberg, New Jersey (Hudson County). The sexual abuse of these minor children took place from approximately 1982 to 1994.

Danielle Polemeni follows another courageous childhood sexual abuse victim, Dave Ohlmuller, who revealed the details of his childhood sexual abuse by Fr. Michael “Mitch” Walters at St. Cassian’s Parish, Upper Montclair, New Jersey, in a Star Ledger (nj.com) article of January 15, 2016

What
A leafleting and press conference to discuss the childhood sexual abuse of a minor child, Danielle Polemeni, and five (5) other minor children by Fr. Michael “Mitch” Walters, at St. Cassian’s Parish, Upper Montclair, NJ, St. John Nepomucene Parish, Guttenberg, NJ, and other locations

When
Saturday, July 2, 2016 from 5:00 pm until 6:30 pm (leafleting only)
Sunday, July 3, 2016 from 8:30 am until Noon (press conference with Danielle Polemeni at 11:45 am)

Where
On the public sidewalk in front of St. Cassian’s Church and School, 187 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey 07043

Who
Danielle Polemeni, a childhood sexual abuse victim of Fr. Michael “Mitch” Walters, originally from Upper Montclair, NJ and who now lives out of state; Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., (roberthoatson@gmail.com) advocate for Danielle Polemeni and President of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity based in New Jersey that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families; family members of Danielle Polemeni, including her sister, Madeleine, and the daughter of Danielle Polemeni; other family members; and, supporters from the victim/survivor community

Why
Danielle Polemeni attended St. Cassian’s Church and School in Upper Montclair, NJ, as a minor child. Fr. Michael “Mitch” Walters sexually abused her when she was a minor child at St. Cassian’s Parish and at other locations in and around Upper Montclair, NJ, and, as a result, the sexual abuse caused her harm. She and her supporters will call on the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ, to permanently remove Fr. Michael “Mitch” Walters from the priesthood and help her try to heal by validating her sexual abuse claim. Danielle Polemeni will encourage other childhood sexual abuse victims of Fr. Michael “Mitch” Walters to come forward to begin their healing.

Contacts
Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., Road to Recovery, Inc., P.O. Box 279, Livingston, NJ – 862-368-2800
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, Boston, MA – 617-523-6250