During the last week, I have heard from several survivors from the Diocese of Scranton responding to my call for people to come and engage the Vicar General of the Diocese in a forum scheduled for March 5, 2020, by The University of Scranton's Task Force on Healing, Reconciliation, and Hope. It looks like there… Continue reading Empowering Survivors to Come Face to Face with the Vicar General
Category: PA Grand Jury Report on Catholic Sexual Abuse
Road Trip to Question the Vicar General of the Diocese of Scranton
I want a conversation, not a confrontation.
The University Of Scranton to Host Diocesan Offices Complicit in Sexual Abuse Coverup
Let me state at the beginning that I am a graduate of the University of Scranton. I think I can say that I began the process of healing at the U during my time there (1978-1982). I loved my school while I was there and still have many friends with whom I keep in contact.… Continue reading The University Of Scranton to Host Diocesan Offices Complicit in Sexual Abuse Coverup
An Update on the Status of Survivor Funds in PA
I have heard from a few of you concerning the amount of time it is taking to get an offer from the various funds set up by the Dioceses in Pennsylvania for childhood survivors of sexual crimes by priests. I have heard there is a backlog with the administrators, an article, Pennsylvania dioceses offer $84M… Continue reading An Update on the Status of Survivor Funds in PA
When Life Gives You Demons
It has been six months since my last post. Much has happened for me, but nothing has changed as far as the Diocese of Scranton is concerned. Everything remains a risk calculation for the boys on Wyoming Avenue. We are no closer to the truth, no closer to the Bishop taking responsibility for his actions,… Continue reading When Life Gives You Demons
Allocution
It is done. I have spent hours filling out the ISCP questionnaire from the Diocese of Scranton. Despite the documentation already provided and the written acknowledgment from the Chancery, I had to answer the following questions: Where did the abuse occur? I provided a list. Age when first sexually abused? Thirteen When did the abuse… Continue reading Allocution
Abuse Survivors, the New Lepers
a person who is avoided or rejected by others for moral or social reasons. Let's just put this out there. Abuse survivors are the new lepers to the "Catholic faithful." Recently, a Facebook Post reply from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference to a comment left by Carolyn Fortney showed that organization's disdain for the universe of… Continue reading Abuse Survivors, the New Lepers
Senator Scarnati’s Pastor Removed for Allegations of Sexual Abuse with a Minor
The Diocese of Eire has removed Monsignor Charles Kaza from St. Tobias Parish in Brockway, PA while an investigation is made into allegations that he sexually abused a minor at St. John The Baptist Parish in Erie in the 1980s. As of the time I was writing this on 19 May 2019, it is five… Continue reading Senator Scarnati’s Pastor Removed for Allegations of Sexual Abuse with a Minor
Filling out the ISCP application
I have been struggling with this for weeks. I am trying to make sense of this play by the Diocese of Scranton. They have set a window for survivors to apply for the Independent Survivor Compensation Program (ISCP) that terminates in July for those who have not previously reported their abuse or in September for… Continue reading Filling out the ISCP application
Diocese releases more information on the ISCP
If you are a survivor in the Diocese of Scranton, you will need to look at the Diocese website for the Independent Survivor's Compensation Program. The link is at the end of the news release and is not part of the main Diocesan site. The Bishop also released a video. There is not a lot… Continue reading Diocese releases more information on the ISCP
Off My Knees - A Blog by Michael Baumann 