UNITED STATES
BishopAccountability.org
Summary of Case: A Third Order Regular Franciscan brother, Baker was a religion teacher, baseball coach and athletic trainer at high schools in Youngstown, OH and Johnstown, PA; he was also assigned at some point earlier in his career to a high school and boys’ home in Norfolk, VA. Baker is said to have sexually abused “dozens, if not hundreds” of former students. His modus operandi is said to have been to tell male athletes they needed massages to prevent injuries, then to proceed to rub them down with oils, including their genitals. He is also accused of digitally penetrating them. Former students have said he would grope them in hallways and during religion class. One former female student has reported that he requested she show up for treatment of a sports injury in loose fitting clothing and no underwear. Baker was the subject of a 2012 settlement with eleven of his accusers. He is said by a superior to have been removed from ministry “long before 2010.”
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