PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Democrat
By Dave Sutor
dsutor@tribdem.com
What was described as a “very emotional conversation” took place between Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown Bishop Mark Bartchak and a group of prominent local advocates for victims of child sexual abuse on Tuesday.
In a private meeting, Bartchak spoke with the co-founders of a new local Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests chapter – Thomas Venditti and John Nesbella, reported victim Shaun Dougherty and another unidentified victim.
The get-together lasted about 2 1/2 hours, as the participants discussed an array of subjects that have arisen since the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General released a grand jury report in 2016 that alleged the diocese conducted a decades-long cover-up to protect predator priests.
“It went well,” Dougherty said. “I think it was a productive meeting.”
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