PENNSYLVANIA
WJAC
Updated: Wednesday, October 22 2014
By: Maria Miller
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — It’s only been a day since the Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown announced an $8 million settlement with 88 alleged victims of sexual abuse at the hands of Brother Stephen Baker and already 6 News has learned at least one more alleged victim has come forward.
It was announced Wednesday by Road to Recovery, an organization that helps victims of sexual abuse.
The group was in Hollidaysburg with a parent of an alleged victim asking the diocese to do more.
“Your mind is spinning, you can’t believe it happened. You don’t want to tell anyone about this, you don’t even want it to be a reality for yourself,” said Barbara Aponte.
“I know this because as a child I was a victim of sexual abuse, not by a clergyman but by a family member.”
Aponte not only knows what it’s like to be a victim, she knows what it’s like to lose a child because of the stigmas attached to sexual abuse.
Her son, Luke Bradesku, took his own life at 29, but it took nearly 11 years until his family found out why. They say he was a victim of Baker. “Had my son gotten help, he might still be here,” Aponte said.
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