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Abuse Victim Speaks out By Jessica Novak The Examiner November 14, 2007 http://www.examiner.com/a-1047222~Abuse_victim_speaks_out.html BALTIMORE (Map, News) - When Kurt Gladsky, Baltimore native and sexual abuse victim, heard about the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore and the impending presidential election of Cardinal Francis George, he jumped in his car and drove 14 hours to the conference from his Florida home. Standing outside the hotel where more than 250 bishops converged, Gladsky said he was sexually abused by a brother at Calvert Hall College High School in 1967 and has been offered money through an arbitrator for Calvert Hall. "Only the most vocal people were offered money, but it's not about money for me," he said "It's about justice, protecting Maryland's children and extending the statute of limitations [on pedophilia.]" Gladsky said he spoke out about his abuse in June 2002. Shortly after, "23 people came to me right off the bat and told me it happened to them," he said. "If Maryland opens the statute of limitations window, it will be a publicity nightmare for [the Catholic Church.]" Francis Bacon, 75, stood by Gladsky at the conference. Bacon said he too was molested at Calvert Hall by the same brother who sexually abused Gladsky. William Francis Malooly, the Baltimore Archdiocese's auxiliary bishop, won't say if he voted for Cardinal Francis George, who victims of sexual abuse say ignored evidence presented to him about sexual abusers in the clergy and refused to immediately remove offending priests. Malooly said the archdiocese released the names of clergy who were sexual abusers and has a Children Protection Program to help victims and their families, but concedes no one could say they're completely successful "because there are so many people hurting. We do the best we can. It's the hardest thing I've ever dealt with in 37 years. And I don't think it's going to get any easier." Contact: jnovak@baltimoreexaminer.com |
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