Off My Knees – A Blog by Michael Baumann
Standing up for myself and other victims of sexual abuse by clergy.
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
For those of you planning on attending the Healing, Reconciliation, and Hope event at the University of Scranton on Thursday, March 5, 2020, be aware of potential traffic and parking restrictions. President Trump is conducting a Town Hall Event during approximately the same time frame in Scranton. As of this posting, I have no information on… Continue reading Trump Card on the Diocese Forum
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
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
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
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
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
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
The email has been pinging again. It seems that the Diocese has announced that they have paid out $2.2 Million to "abuse victims" in the first 90 days of the Individual Survivor Compensation Program. (David Singleton. May 11, 2019. The Times-Tribune: Diocese of Scranton pays $2.2M to abuse victims in first 90 days of program)… Continue reading Mother’s Day Weekend update from the Diocese of Scranton
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
