Mother of Abuse Victim Says Catholic Diocese Is "Foot-dragging"

By Glenn Stevens
WFMJ
May 19, 2015

http://www.wfmj.com/story/29105588/mother-of-abuse-victim-says-catholic-diocese-is-foot-dragging

A mother from Poland staged her own demonstration Tuesday in front of the offices of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown to commemorate the death of her son 12 years ago.

Barbara Aponte's son, Luke Bradesku, who took his own life, was among nearly 39 sexual abuse victims of Brother Stephen Baker, who at one time was assigned to John F. Kennedy High School in Warren.

While the Diocese settled the cases of 11 victims in 2012, Aponte says the cases of 28 others have yet to be acknowledged.

"This needs to be over for me, it needs to be over for the other victims and families that are struggling, I have forgiven Brother Steve and I'd like to get on with forgiving the church, but I don't think I can," Aponte said.

The Diocese says because the claims are still in mediation it cannot address specifics. In a statement released Tuesday afternoon the Diocese said.

"Legal counsel for the Diocese and the Franciscan Order have been engaged in ongoing discussions with the Boston attorney (for the abused) in an effort to resolve the claims and bring healing to the victims."

The statement did not comment on the number of years that have passed.