Media Release – October 26, 2015

Road to Recovery
October 24, 2015

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

JESUIT PRIESTS AND BROTHERS CONTINUE TO RE-ABUSE CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIM OF A JESUIT PRIEST – ENOUGH WITH THE FOOT DRAGGING!

Neal E. Gumpel is a clergy sexual abuse victim of a previously named predator, Fr. Roy Alan Drake, SJ, now deceased and former teacher and professor at Fordham Prep and University and Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine, where Fr. Roy Alan Drake, SJ, sexually abused Neal E. Gumpel when he was a minor child

The Northeast Province of the Jesuits interviewed five individuals, including Neal E. Gumpel, who provided credible evidence confirming that Fr. Roy Alan Drake, SJ, held himself out at all times as a Jesuit priest at Maine Maritime Academy and sexually abused Neal E. Gumpel there

What

A press conference and leafleting alerting the media, general public, Fordham University and Fordham Prep students, parents, alumni, and staff that the Northeast Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and Fordham Prep and University keep dragging their feet in assisting a childhood clergy sexual abuse victim of one of its priests, Fr. Roy Alan Drake, SJ.

When

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm

Where

On the public sidewalk outside the gates of Fordham Prep and University on Southern Boulevard (near the entrance to the Bronx Botanical Gardens), Bronx, NY

Who

Neal E. Gumpel, a childhood sexual abuse victim of Fr. Roy Alan Drake, SJ; his wife, Helen Gumpel; and members of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity based in New Jersey that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families, including its co-founder and President, Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., and Kevin Waldrip, a victim/survivor from New Jersey

Why

The Northeast Province of the Society of Jesus knows that Fr. Roy Alan Drake, SJ, was a serial molester of minor boys. They settled at least one claim against Fr. Drake in the past. Neal E. Gumpel’s credible story of having been sexually abused as a minor child by Fr. Roy Alan Drake, SJ, at Maine Maritime Academy was credibly supported by four other individuals. Now, the Northeast Province of the Society of Jesus is dragging its feet in settling Neal E. Gumpel’s claim, and they are re-abusing Neal E. Gumpel. Demonstrators will demand that the Jesuit Priests and Brothers of the Northeast Province cease their foot-dragging, acknowledge and verify Neal E. Gumpel’s story, allow him to heal, and try to gain a degree of closure.

Contacts

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

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