Media Release – September 12, 2016

Road to Recovery
September 13, 2016

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

The Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, and the Third Order Regular Franciscan Friars, based in Hollidaysburg, PA, disrespect twenty-eight (28) childhood victims of sexual abuse by Br. Stephen Baker, T.O.R., with a settlement of nine hundred thousand dollars ($900,000.00), thus re-victimizing and disrespecting the victims, once again acting unfairly toward sexual abuse victims and preventing healing

Twenty-eight (28) innocent childhood sexual abuse victims of serial clergy sexual abuser, Br. Stephen Baker of the Third Order Regular Franciscans of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, have been re-victimized by the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, and the Third Order Regular Franciscan Friars because they refused to fairly and reasonably settle claims of twenty-eight (28) childhood sexual abuse victims, thus preventing victims from healing

The Youngstown Diocese recently announced a so-called “expansion” of its efforts to ensure the safety of children, but the Youngstown Diocese and the Third Order Regular Franciscan Friars would be more moral and ethical if they reasonably and justly settled claims of childhood sexual abuse by clergymen, like Br. Stephen Baker, T.O.R., who was able to abuse dozens of children because the Youngstown Diocese and the Third Order Regular Franciscan Friars enabled Br. Stephen Baker’s dangerous and destructive actions

What

A press conference announcing a disrespectful settlement of nine hundred thousand dollars ($900,000.00) for twenty-eight (28) sexual abuse victims of serial pedophile Br. Stephen Baker, T.O.R., who taught at John F. Kennedy High School in Warren, Ohio

When

Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 11:00 am

Where

On the public sidewalk across from the headquarters of the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, at 144 West Wood Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44503 – 330-744-8451

Who

Barbara Aponte, mother of Br. Stephen Baker victim, Luke Bradesku (RIP), who was part of the settlement; Dr. Robert M. Hoatson, President of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity based in New Jersey that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families; and possibly another victim of Br. Stephen Baker, T.O.R.

Why

The Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, and the Third Order Regular Franciscan Friars refused to settle twenty-eight (28) sexual abuse claims against Br. Stephen Baker, T.O.R. fairly and reasonably, hiding behind and bolstered by antiquated statute of limitations laws in the State of Ohio. The path of destruction of sexual abuse by Br. Stephen Baker, T.O.R. at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Warren, Ohio, is well-documented and undeniable, yet the Diocese of Youngstown and the Third Order Regular Franciscan Friars disrespected Br. Baker’s victims by settling twenty-eight (28) cases for nine hundred thousand dollars ($900,000.00). Demonstrators will discuss the disrespectful settlement and express their disappointment with the Diocese of Youngstown and the Third Order Regular Franciscan Friars for not fairly and reasonably settling their claims and preventing victims from healing.

Contacts

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

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