Media Release – September 7, 2016

Road to Recovery
September 7, 2016

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

“The Fordhams” (Prep and University) resume academic years under clouds of sexual abuse allegations from former students and complete strangers against Jesuit priests and lay teachers

Reports of childhood sexual abuse by Fordham University and Fordham Prep Jesuit priests and lay teacher, including Neal E. Gumpel’s credible claim of sexual abuse by Fr. Roy Alan Drake, S.J., 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

Neal E. Gumpel was a high school student from Westchester County, NY, who was sexually abused by as a minor child by Fr. Roy Alan Drake, SJ, deceased Fordham University and Fordham Prep professor and 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 thus far have refused to help Neal E. Gumpel heal by validating and reasonably settling his claim which they have found to be credible

What

A demonstration and leafleting alerting the media, Fordham Prep and University 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, and focusing attention on the credible claim of Neal E. Gumpel

When

Thursday, September 8, 2016 from 11:00 AM until 1:30 PM

Who

Neal E. Gumpel; his wife, Helen Gumpel; victim/survivor Kevin Waldrip; and Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., President of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity based in New Jersey that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families

Where

On the public sidewalk outside the main gates of Fordham University, 400 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY

Why

Neal E. Gumpel’s account of having been sexually abused by Fr. Roy Alan Drake, SJ, has been found credible by the Northeast Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), but the Jesuit leaders have yet to reasonably settle Neal E. Gumpel’s claim. Recently, in a media report, the Jesuits expressed their willingness to help victims of childhood sexual abuse heal. It is time for the Jesuit Priests and Brothers of the Northeast Province to reasonably settle the childhood sexual abuse claim of Neal E. Gumpel.

Contact

Robert M. Hoatson, Fordham University Ph.D., 1988 – 862-368-2800 – roberthoatson@gmail.com