NEW JERSEY
Essex News Daily
By: Sean Quinn – Staff Writer
WEST ORANGE — Speak with Bob Hoatson for just a few minutes and it becomes immediately apparent that he is a genuinely nice man. Immensely friendly and down-to-earth, Hoatson just seems like the type of guy who would shovel your porch without being asked or check your house while you were away on vacation — selfless. It is easy to imagine him working for the Catholic Church, which he did for more than 30 years.
What is not evident is the fact that Hoatson has experienced many personal tragedies throughout his life. He said he was sexually abused by more than one clergyman as an Irish Christian Brother and later as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Newark, and is now recalling repressed memories of being molested by a school custodian as a young boy. In 2011, he was dispensed from his priestly vows by the Vatican upon his request after facing years of resistance from the church over his work as a clergy-abuse victims’ advocate.
But Hoatson did not succumb to his hardships. Instead, he co-founded the Road to Recovery nonprofit organization to support victims of sexual abuse like himself. And though his past experiences being molested were undoubtedly horrific, he said they have proven to be an asset in helping those dealing with similar circumstances.
“It is immeasurable, the assistance that it provides,” Hoatson told the West Orange Chronicle in a Dec. 29 phone interview. “When I talk to somebody who has been through it, I can say ‘I know what you are going through, I think. I have an idea of what you are going through because I have had similar experiences.’ So when they talk about nightmares and flashbacks and depression and anxiety and all kinds of other symptoms about having been sexually abused, I know what they are talking about.”
Road to Recovery’s mission is to help victims of sexual abuse in any way possible, including providing financial assistance and getting addicts into drug rehabilitation programs. Yet perhaps the most vital component of its work is simply providing the empathy and emotional support necessary to help abuse victims recover from their trauma.
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