Media Release – August 17, 2016 – Road to Recovery, Inc.

Road to Recovery
August 18, 2016

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

Reports of childhood sexual abuse by Fordham University and Fordham Prep Jesuit priests and lay teachers continue to surface in the aftermath of the recent announcement by Fordham Prep alumnus, Michael Meenan, that religion teacher, Fernand Beck, sexually abused him in 1984

For example, Neal E. Gumpel was a high school student from Westchester County, New York, who was sexually abused as a minor child by Fr. Roy Alan Drake, SJ, deceased Fordham University and Fordham Prep teacher, who was teaching at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine, while Neal E. Gumpel was visiting his brother, a student at Maine Maritime Academy. Jesuit leaders have refused to help Neal E. Gumpel heal by validating his claim which they have found to be credible

What

A demonstration and leafleting alerting the media, Fordham University and Fordham Prep students, parents, alumni, and the general public about the growing number of reports of sexual abuse against Fordham University and Fordham Prep faculty and staff members in the aftermath of the recent announcement (NY Times and New York Post) by Michael Meenan, Fordham Prep ’84, that he was sexually abused by his religion teacher, Fernand Beck, during a graduation party in Westchester County, New York. Demonstrators will also draw attention to the claim of Neal E. Gumpel, a childhood sexual abuse victim of Fr. Roy Alan Drake, SJ, a deceased Fordham University and Fordham Prep teacher, who sexually abused Neal E. Gumpel at Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, Maine and was found credible by Jesuit leaders of the Northeast Province of the Society of Jesus

When

Thursday, August 18, 2016 – 11:00 am until 1:00 pm

Where

Outside the gates of Fordham University and Fordham Prep near 400 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY, which is also across the street from the entrance of the New York Botanical Gardens

Who

Neal E. Gumpel, a sexual abuse victim/survivor of Fr. Roy Alan Drake, SJ; Helen Gumpel, the wife of Neal E. Gumpel; and Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., 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.

Why

Michael Meenan was a Fordham Prep senior in 1984 when his religion teacher, Fernand Beck, sexually abused him at a graduation party in Westchester County, NY. On Monday, August 8, 2016, the New York Times and New York Post published stories about Michael Meenan’s allegations which were found credible by attorneys for Fordham Prep. Fernand Beck has been fired by Fordham Prep and recently denied the allegations in the Fordham University student newspaper, the Ram. Since Michael Meenan’s story went public on August 8, 2016, reports of alleged sexual abuse against Fordham Prep faculty and staff members, including Fernand Beck, have been made. In addition, while the Jesuit priests and brothers of the Northeast Province have found allegations of childhood sexual abuse against one of its deceased members, Fr. Roy Alan Drake, SJ, credible, they have refused to help childhood sexual abuse victim/survivor Neal E. Gumpel heal by validating his claim

Contacts

Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D. – 862-368-2800 – roberthoatson@gmail.com, Road to Recovery, Inc.

Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, Boston, MA – 617-523-6250