NEW YORK
Road to Recovery
Media Release
June 4, 2014
The Board of Trustees of Notre Dame School refuses to believe an alumna’s account of sexual abuse, and the Sisters of St. Ursula, who administer the school, have ignored her requests for justice
Graduates and parents of Notre Dame School will be asked to join former nun’s call for justice from Notre Dame School and the Sisters of St. Ursula
What: A demonstration outside a Manhattan Catholic girls’ high school graduation
When: Thursday, June 5, 2014 from 5:00 PM until 6:30 PM
Where: On the sidewalk outside Cooper Union, 7 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003
Who: Cecilia Springer is an 83 year-old former nun and graduate of Notre Dame School, class of 1948, who was approximately 14 years old and a sophomore at Notre Dame School when the Principal of the school, Sr. Mary Andrew (aka/ Sr. Frances Doyle), followed her up the school staircase from the lunchroom and sexually abused her. The sexual abuse occurred on more than one occasion. Ms. Springer, the former Sister Mary Grace, learned that at least one other classmate experienced similar sexual abuse by Sr. Mary Andrew. Her advocate from Road to Recovery, Robert M. Hoatson, will be present as will fellow clergy sexual abuse survivors.
Why: Cecilia Springer became a Sister of St. Ursula following graduation from college even though she had suffered sexual abuse as a child by her high school Principal, Sr. Mary Andrew, S.U., at Notre Dame School. She left the Sisters of St. Ursula many years later after it became untenable for her to remain in a religious order of women that did nothing about sexual abuse at their school, Notre Dame. Cecilia Springer was interviewed by representatives of the Notre Dame School Board of Trustees and their lawyer, but they have refused to help her in any way in her senior years. Those attending the graduation exercises of Notre Dame School will be asked to prevail upon Notre Dame School and the Sisters of St. Ursula to do the right thing by acknowledging that Cecilia Springer is, indeed, a victim of sexual abuse by Sr. Mary Andrew, apologizing to her for what happened, and assisting her in living a more stress-free life.
Contacts: Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D., Road to Recovery, Inc. – 862-368-2800
Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, Boston, MA – 617-523-6250
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