I am trying to work out where I want to go with this blog. Now that I am over 50 posts into this little exercise in free speech I am struggling with where to go next. I am trying to find out what I should be talking about and what voice I should use to… Continue reading Building an Online Community for Survivors of Clerical Sexual Abuse.
Category: Father Robert Gibson
Fear and Doubt
Thirty-five years later and I still have moments of terror. He had shown up in my life while I was in college and caused me to panic, the flight instinct kicking in and sending me into a spiral. He was always there in the back of my head and in the forefront of my… Continue reading Fear and Doubt
Picture This…
I realize that people are becoming desensitized to the Catholic Church's Sex Scandal. The media coverage over the past 10 years has been overwhelming at times. Some people would like to see this story die and go away. I know that the Catholic Church would like to see people like me go away and remain… Continue reading Picture This…
Connecting the dots…
Abuse thrives in an environment of secrecy! These people are enablers of abuse as long as they keep the Bishops' secrets.
Another Jurisdiction Heard From
A detective from Orlando contacted me yesterday to tell me that they could not prefer charges against Father Gibson for the event that occurred when he brought me to Disney World in the summer of 1974. This was not a surprise to me. The statute of limitations had long since expired on Father Gibson. What… Continue reading Another Jurisdiction Heard From
Correspondence with the Bishop
I have been corresponding with the Bishop of Scranton. The exchange has been frustrating, infuriating and absolutely exhausting. I firmly believe that words are important, that words have meaning. If you have read anything I have written in the previous 39 posts I have put in this blog, it should be of no surprise to… Continue reading Correspondence with the Bishop
Bishop Timlin’s Precept and Decree on Father Robert Gibson
Reasons of Health? Is that what they call it at the Chancery when a priest has been accused of and admitted to molesting and raping children?
Drafting a Letter to Bishop Martino
I am working on drafting a letter to Bishop Martino to address the particulars of my "experiences" with Father Gibson when I was 13. This has been a difficult letter to write because it not only addresses the nature of the abuse but because I want to also ask him why no investigation has ever been conducted… Continue reading Drafting a Letter to Bishop Martino
Out of pocket
I have not posted in a little while. There are many reasons for this. Obviously, a glance towards a calendar would indicate that it was the holiday season. This time of year comes with some real challenges. The message of the holiday season and the focus on religious services sometimes can be an overwhelming reminder… Continue reading Out of pocket
Florida, not the happiest place on earth…
Near the end of my 8th grade year, Father Gibson made an offer to take me to Florida for a vacation. While most 13 year old kids in 1974 would have jumped at the chance to go to Disney World I knew what I was in for. He made the suggestion to my parents, who… Continue reading Florida, not the happiest place on earth…
Off My Knees - A Blog by Michael Baumann 