NEW YORK
WGRZ
April 27, 2018
BUFFALO, NY — His name is Charlie Pero, and after 57 years, he’s coming forward publicly now to talk about being sexually abused by two Catholic priests to let other victims know it’s OK. To let them know they should not be ashamed or afraid to talk about it anymore.
Charlie says that he has been in a living hell for 57 years, until his daughter Kelly recently asked him when it was that his life took a spiral down. It was that moment that Charlie realized that God was about to heal him after decades of pain.
“It blew my mind, because it was right between the eyes, didn’t think… I know exactly what it was, and when it was,” Charlie said.
Charlie grew up during the 50s and 60s, the oldest of four children. His parents were strict disciplinarians and the local Catholic church Saint Joseph — where he was an altar boy — was a huge part of his parents’ lives, both spiritually and socially.
They got to know the priests in the church extremely well, very close, they would be at our house more so than the rectory… they just liked coming over and socializing with my parents” Charlie said.
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