On the last Wednesday in January, I had the opportunity to sit in on a SNAP Support Group meeting in Northern Virginia. The meeting is run by Becky Ianni, the SNAP State Coordinator for Virginia. The group meets at a location not far off of I-495. On any other night it should have been easy… Continue reading The SNAP Meeting in Northern Virginia
Category: Priest Sex Scandal
Pastoral Letters of Bishop Martino Silent on the Issue of Child Sexual Assaults/Abuse
“Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.” Gospel of St. Matthew (also the lead off quote for Bishop Martino's Pastoral Letter dated January 15, 2009) If you want to know what is important to the Bishops in American Dioceses, you… Continue reading Pastoral Letters of Bishop Martino Silent on the Issue of Child Sexual Assaults/Abuse
Bishop of Scranton Eliminates/Consolidates Parishes
The Scranton Times-Tribune continues to cover the further misadventures of Bishop Martino. Go to the Scranton Times-Tribune article on the consolidation of parishes due to shortages of priests and parishioners. Read the Bishop's Message. Do you think that the increasing number of Catholics who are no longer "practicing" their faith is related to issues such… Continue reading Bishop of Scranton Eliminates/Consolidates Parishes
Key Provisions for Window Legislation in PA
In response to some pretty good feedback I would like to cover the kinds of things that have been in previous bills introduced in Harrisburg. While I live in Virginia, the events of 1974 took place in Pennsylvania, New York and Florida. I am concentrating on Pennsylvania at the moment, home of the Diocese that… Continue reading Key Provisions for Window Legislation in PA
Let the Federal Search Warrants Flow…
Please support your local crusading U.S. Attorney! Yesterday's news, chronicled in the Abuse Tracker by Kathy Shaw, was full of stories about the Federal Grand Jury Investigation of the Diocese of Los Angeles and Cardinal Roger M. Mahony for his alleged role in covering up child molestation by priests. The grounds on which the grand… Continue reading Let the Federal Search Warrants Flow…
Chance to talk to other Survivors, SNAP Support Groups
I have been doing some travel to the Washington, DC area as part of my job. The project that I am working on has meetings scheduled almost every Wednesday. This has afforded me the opportunity to try to get to a SNAP support group meeting that is conducted by the Virginia Coordinator for SNAP in Falls… Continue reading Chance to talk to other Survivors, SNAP Support Groups
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
Legislative Sessions
Happy New Year! The start of a new year, especially after a major election cycle, is filled with the promise of a new legislative session opening. As is the tradition established in the U.S. Constitution, the new Congress will be sworn in on the first Monday in January. This year that will be on 5… Continue reading Legislative Sessions
The End of Innocence
This film is a finalist in YouTube's Project:Report, a journalism contest that asks amateur reporters to submit stories that may not otherwise be told. I think this is a brilliant effort by Kim from Crystal City, MO under the YouTube name of "Do Good Work". She has done very good work. I highly recommend that… Continue reading The End of Innocence
Kelly in Marquette
Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction. Blaise Pascal Kelly, I read your blog posts for December. I want more people to read it. I want people to read all the blogs of all the people that are still struggling with the damage caused by these… Continue reading Kelly in Marquette
Off My Knees - A Blog by Michael Baumann 