Media Release – May 16, 2015

Road to Recovery
May 16, 2015

http://www.road-to-recovery.org/

Two childhood victims of clergy sexual abuse from the 1980s, Juan Rodriguez and Luis Ramos, will discuss horrific sexual abuse by Fr. Kenneth Wicks at St. Gabriel’s Roman Catholic Church in East New York, Brooklyn, and at Fr. Wicks’ vacation home in upstate New York where Fr. Kenneth Wicks allegedly killed himself.

Juan Rodriguez and Luis Ramos reported the sexual abuse by Fr. Kenneth Wicks to the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York in approximately 1993-1995 but the Diocese of Brooklyn did nothing to help the childhood victims of clergy sexual abuse and kept the sexual abuse quiet.

It is believed that dozens of children were sexually abused by Fr. Kenneth Wicks at St. Gabriel’s Parish in East New York, Brooklyn, and in Fr. Wicks’ upstate New York vacation home and the abuse allegedly included tying up and blindfolding children during the acts of sexual abuse.

What

A demonstration, leafleting, and press conference alerting the media and general public of horrific and extensive sexual abuse of minor children at St. Gabriel’s Roman Catholic Church in East New York, Brooklyn, and other places by Fr. Kenneth Wicks.

When

Sunday, May 17, 2015 from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm (Press conference at Noon)

Where

On the public sidewalk outside St. Gabriel’s Roman Catholic Church, 749 Linwood Street, Brooklyn, New York 11208 – 718-257-0612

Who

Juan Rodriguez, a community activist and leader of the 75th Police Precinct Community Board, and childhood sexual abuse victim of Fr. Kenneth Wicks; Luis Ramos, a social worker in New York City, former priest seminarian and Franciscan friar, indigenous activist, and childhood victim of Fr. Kenneth Wicks; Robert M. Hoatson, Co-founder and President of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families, and members of Road to Recovery, Inc.; and, family members and supporters of Juan Rodriguez and Luis Ramos

Why

In the 1980s, Juan Rodriguez and Luis Ramos as minor children were sexually abused by Fr. Kenneth Wicks at St. Gabriel’s Parish in East New York, Brooklyn, and other places. The two clergy sexual abuse victims reported the sexual abuse to a leader of the Diocese of Brooklyn in the 1990s but nothing was done to help the victims heal and compensate the victims for their injuries. In fact, Juan Rodriguez was told that Fr. Kenneth Wicks suffered a fatal heart attack or stroke after being confronted with his allegations when, in fact, Fr. Kenneth Wicks reportedly killed himself in his vacation home in upstate New York. Demonstrators will urge other victims of Fr. Kenneth Wicks to come forward to begin their healing and demand of the Diocese of Brooklyn that it compensate sexual abuse victims.

Contacts

Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., Road to Recovery, Inc. – 862-368-2800 – roberthoatson@gmail.com

Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, Boston, MA – 617-523-6250