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Criminal charges against clergy mark an 'heroic event' in clergy sex abuse scandal
By Ivey Dejesus
[with video] Stephen Baker was a Franciscan Friar, a follower of the first order that followed Francis of Assisi and his devotion to helping the poor. He was also a known predator, a monster who molested upwards of hundreds of children. His supervisors knew about the horrific crimes and not only concealed it from police and school administrators, they continued to assign him to posts — including in schools — that would put him in direct contact with children, a grand jury determined. On Tuesday morning Baker's supervisors were charged with criminal conspiracy and child endangerment. In a press conference at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown, Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced the charges against Giles A. Schinelli, 73, Robert J. D'Aversa, 69, and Anthony M. Criscitelli, 61. All are members of the Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regulars, Province of the Immaculate Conception, which is based in Hollidaysburg, Blair County. Baker, who spent nearly 10 years at Bishop McCort Catholic High School in Johnstown, committed suicide in 2013. Kane said all three over the years knew that Baker was a child predator but continued to put him in positions where he had access to children. "Their silence resulted in immeasurable pain and suffering for so many victims. These men turned a blind eye to the innocent children they were trusted to protect," Kane said. During the press conference, one lone victims' advocate stood outside in the rain with his homemade placards. Robert Hoatson, a former priest turned advocate who has worked with some of Baker's victims, was overjoyed to hear that Kane had brought down criminal charges against the three friars. "This is a heroic event in the history of clergy sex abuse," Hoatson said. "We know that officials of the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese, the Franciscan Friars in Hollidaysburg, and many, many other religious leaders knew about this for many decades." Hoatson, a member of Catholic Whistleblowers and Road to Recovery, said he was grateful to Kane for leveling the charges. All three men live outside of Pennsylvania. They are not in custody, but authorities are in the process of bringing them to Pennsylvania, Kane said. Hoatson said his thoughts turned to "those who suffered for so long." "These folks have lived with this emotional roller coaster and to think these men in that relatively little monastery were able to cover up not just in Pennsylvania, but Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia. It boggles my mind that they placed the image of the Franciscan Third Order Regulars and the Catholic Church above these little kids." Hoatson said he has written to President Obama urging him to establish a national commission on child sexual abuse. He said Kane's efforts in holding the culpable accountable would "catapult the request into reality." Another victims advocate, George Foster, who was instrumental in bringing the cover up in the diocese to the attention of authorities said victims could finally begin to demand accountability. "For years we've been talking about what's going on here in the newspaper," he said. "People didn't want to believe what was happening. Our church has been asking for mercy but when you lookin the face of victims, they want justice. They've wanted these men to be held accountable." Foster, who said he attends church every Sunday, and attended Mass on Tuesday morning, urged church officials who have information or know about abusive priests to take that information to law enforcement officials. Foster said current bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown — the Rev. Mark Bartchak — has the responsibility to lead in the healing. "He has the responsibility to say the two words that will resonate in every Catholic's heart: Never again," Foster said. "That's what we need to have happen here." Kane, whose office received the case on Baker from Cambria County District Attorney Kelly Callihan in January 2014, said that investigators had evidence of 80 children — most of them McCort students — who had been molested by Baker. Authorities believe that more than a hundred children were molested. Kane said investigators had uncovered significant wrongdoing on the part of Schinelli, D'Aversa and Criscitelli. "These individuals knew that Brother Baker was a child predator and that Baker had allegations of child molestation in 1988 and again 2000," Kane said. They did not report those allegations to law enforcement authorities or school administrators. "They engaged in efforts to protect the image and reputation of Franciscan Friars rather than act in the best interest of the children that they served," she said. Schinelli, D'Aversa and Criscitelli had exclusive and total control over the assignment of personnel within the organization and made the final call on where to assign Baker. Baker, who was officially assigned for eight years to Bishop McCort Catholic High School, had access to the school until 2010 and served an athletic department volunteer. Baker was accused of molesting 80 children during his time at McCort, including cases as recent as six years ago. Tuesday's charges come at the heels of a grand jury investigation report on the diocese that found that church leaders for decades knew about and concealed hundreds of cases of child sexual abuse at the hands of more than 50 priests. According to Kane, the victims hotline set in the wake of the grand jury investigation report two weeks ago has received 215 allegations of clergy sex abuse. She urged anyone with information or victims of abuse to call the hotline, which is staffed with trained professionals. "We can't stress enough the importance of holding those who mistreat and abuse our children accountable for what they've done and we can't stress enough the importance that we need the public to continue this fight with us." Contact: idejesus@pennlive.com
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