Bishop Addresses Slew of Accusations

WFMJ
January 24, 2013

http://www.wfmj.com/global/story.asp?s=20669541

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Diocese of Youngstown hosted a press conference Thursday morning to address the recent media attention surrounding its schools.

At the event, Bishop George Murry addressed this slew of recent accusations and the coverage surrounding them.

Murry says there are currently no credible accusations against anyone in the ministry nor any of the diocesan employees, but wants to ensure Mahoning Valley residents that the diocese takes all precautions to protect the children in their care.

The diocese was recently under fire for lawsuits with 11 men who say Franciscan Brother Stephen Baker molested them when they were boys attending school at Warren John F Kennedy.

Those suits have been settled, but over a dozen more people have come forward since the settlement went public also saying Brother Baker molested them.

"We agreed to a settlement because we believed the allegations to be credible. No confidentiality agreement was requested or signed by any of the parties. We do not make secret agreements. Any one of the victims is freee to discuss the details of the settlement. Out of respect for the privacy of the victims, however, we do not disclose such information publicly," Murry said.

Most recently, SNAP, Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, says two more victims have come forward claiming two perpretrators of sex crimes still work for the diocese.

The group says authorities at the church have been notified, but no action has been taken.

Diocese spokeswoman Nancy Yuhasz and Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains ask all victims of abuse to seek law enforcement help first before reporting to the church.

Murry said he, along with Warren JFK president Brian Sinchak, are in the process of contacting each victim and said he will invite them to meet so he can apologize personally.