Off My Knees – A Blog by Michael Baumann
Standing up for myself and other victims of sexual abuse by clergy.
I don't get much feedback from those who come to this blog. There are times when I think it would be easier to drive to Virginia Beach (I live in Southeastern Virginia) and yell at the tide rolling in than to write posts (and rewrite them repeatedly). Two weeks ago, I wrote a piece on… Continue reading I am not the only militant talking about Bishop Bambera.
The Bishop of Scranton has whispered to the bulletin-reading faithful in the Diocese of Scranton. The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, has put forward his annual "Healing Mass for Survivors of Abuse" on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Bishop Bambera The prelate of Slocum's Hollow has chosen to have another Thursday matinee to… Continue reading Diocese of Scranton, you are being Bamb(era)oozled again!
On November 10, 2021, I participated in a frank discussion about the Sexual Abuse Crisis in the Catholic Church from the Perspective of Survivors. Joining me were Kristen Ciaccia (Co-Host of The Angry Catholic Show), Shaun Dougherty (President of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP)), and Brian Cites (Associate Director, Baker -Nord… Continue reading The Video from Survivors’ Perspectives Panel is Available
I am happy to announce that the Truth and Reconciliation event will be live-streamed at the University of Scranton. The University has set up a Zoom link for the event that will allow people who can't be at the University of Scranton that evening to watch the panel discussion. The feed will only be broadcast.… Continue reading Update on the 10 November Event at the Univ of Scranton
Forty years ago, I was a Senior at The University of Scranton. I had to let that set in when I was on a Zoom call with everyone involved in bringing this event together. I am heading back one more time for a conversation that I believe is long overdue. Joining me to have a… Continue reading Truth and Reconciliation
Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, Diocese of Scranton The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, the current Bishop of Scranton, is once again hiding information on a predator in his Diocese. Ed Loch, former music director at St Nicholas Catholic Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was caught arranging to meet someone, who he thought was a fifteen-year-old boy,… Continue reading The Bishop of Scranton is Actively Covering for Another Predator
Whoever listens to a witness, becomes a witnessElie Wiesel The University of Scranton's Task Force on Healing, Reconciliation and Hope was created in 2018 with the mandate to "address the difficult but necessary questions raised by the Grand Jury report detailing the sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Pennsylvania and failures by church leaders in… Continue reading The University of Scranton Task Force Report Is In
From the Diocese of Scranton's Media Page. Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton I was surprised to find out that Bishop Bambera of the Diocese of Scranton held a Healing Mass for Survivors of Abuse. At this mass, “he acknowledged and again apologized for the pain of survivors of sexual abuse.” Wow, what… Continue reading Bishop holds mass for survivors but didn’t invite them…
We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. Albert Einstein While I was at the Task Force Event at the University of Scranton, I had the opportunity to meet Paul and Kris Ciaccia, the husband and wife team behind The Angry Catholic. They run a site… Continue reading The Angry Catholic.com
I traveled to Scranton for the University of Scranton's Task Force on Healing, Reconciliation & Hope presentation Diocese of Scranton: Learning Lessons, Strengthening Safeguards & Empowering Survivors. The event featured the Vicar General of the Diocese, the Victim's Assistance Coordinator (VAC), and the Safe Environment Coordinator. A friend from the Class of '82 made the trip… Continue reading All Roads Lead to Scranton
Off My Knees - A Blog by Michael Baumann 