MEDIA RELEASE – JULY 8, 2017

By Robert M. Hoatson
Road to Recovery
July 8, 2017

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

THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ENCOMPASSING THE BOROUGHS OF BROOKLYN AND QUEENS IN NEW YORK CITY, HAS ANNOUNCED A FINANCIAL COMPENSATION PROGRAM FOR CHILDHOOD VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY PRIESTS AND DEACONS

Fr. Brian Keller and other priests and/or deacons were sexual abusers of many boys and girls during their assignments at parishes in the Queens neighborhoods of Glendale (for example, St. Pancras); Ridgewood (for example, St. Matthias); and Middle Village (for example, St. Margaret), and in many other Brooklyn/Queens parishes, schools, institutions, and neighborhoods

Many courageous men and women have come forward to begin their healing from sexual abuse by Brooklyn diocesan priests and deacons and it is believed that many innocent victim/survivors are still living in silence and fear in Glendale, Ridgewood, Middle Village, Queens, NY, and many other sections and neighborhoods of the Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens

What Demonstrations and leafletings outside neighboring parishes in Queens, New York, where sexual abuse of children by priests and/or deacons took place

When and Where Sunday, July 9, 2017 from 9:30 am until 10:30 AM on the public sidewalk outside St. Margaret Church, 6605 79th Place, Middle Village, NY 11379 (Church is around the corner on 80th Street)

Sunday, July 9, 2017 from 10:45 AM until 11:30 AM on the public sidewalk outside St. Matthias Church, 5815 Catalpa Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385 (before the 11:30 AM Masses)

Sunday, July 9, 2017 from 11:45 AM until 12:15 PM on the public sidewalk outside St. Pancras Church, 72-22 68th Street, Glendale, NY 11385 (after the 11:00 AM Mass)

Who Members of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity based in New Jersey that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families, including its co-founder and President, Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D.

Why The Diocese of Brooklyn has instituted a program of financial compensation for childhood victims of sexual abuse by diocesan priests and deacons. Already, several men and women have courageously begun their healing by coming forward to report their abuse and participating in the compensation program. But, it is believed that many men and women who were abused as children continue to live in silence and fear. Demonstrators will urge all sexual abuse victims of priests and deacons in the Diocese of Brooklyn to come forward, begin to heal, and participate in a program that is long overdue.