Media Release – Monday, July 6, 2015

Road to Recovery
July 6, 2015

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

The Attorney General of Ohio needs to begin a state’s criminal investigation of the sexual abuse of minor children by Br. Stephen Baker, T.O.R. in much the same way the Pennsylvania Attorney General is investigating sexual abuse of minor children by Br. Stephen Baker and the Third Order Regular Franciscans of Hollidaysburg, PA

Br. Stephen Baker, who committed suicide in his Pennsylvania monastery, sexually abused more than 100 minor children in several states, including Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and courageous victim/survivors continue to come forward to report their abuse and begin their healing

A second member of the Third Order Franciscans, Fr. David Kaczmarek, T.O.R., allegedly committed suicide recently in the Hollidaysburg, PA area in the midst of the investigation by the Pennsylvania Attorney General

What

A press conference calling on the Ohio Attorney General to commence a criminal investigation of the sexual abuse of minor children by Br. Stephen Baker, T.O.R, in Ohio, especially at John F. Kennedy High School in Warren, Ohio, St. Mary’s Middle School in Warren, Ohio, and possibly other towns and cities in Ohio, and the actions and policies of the Third Order Religious Franciscans based in Hollidaysburg, PA, who supervised Br. Stephen Baker and other Franciscan friars

When

Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 11:00 am

Where

On the public sidewalk across from the headquarters of the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, 144 West Wood Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44503

Who

Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., Co-founder and President of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families; Barbara Aponte of Poland, Ohio, mother of Luke Bradesku, a John F. Kennedy High School victim of Br. Stephen Baker who is deceased; and possibly two victims of Br. Stephen Baker who still live in the Warren, Ohio area.

Why

The Attorney General of Pennsylvania is currently conducting a criminal investigation of the Third Order Regular Franciscan friars religious order based in Hollidaysburg, PA as a result of dozens of credible allegations of sexual abuse against Br. Stephen Baker, T.O.R., at Bishop Mc Cort High School in Johnstown, PA and the surrounding area. Recently, another Franciscan friar, Fr. David Kaczmarek, T.O.R., committed suicide in a facility run by the Franciscan friars in Hollidaysburg, PA. Demonstrators will call on the Attorney General of Ohio to begin a criminal investigation of the sexual abuse of minor children by Br. Stephen Baker, T.O.R., in Ohio, and of the supervisors of Br. Stephen Baker who transferred him from Michigan to Ohio despite knowing about his history of sexual abuse of children in Michigan.

Contacts

Dr. Robert M. Hoatson, Road to Recovery, Inc. – Livingston, NJ 07039 – 862-368-2800

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