Victims advocates: Case against Vatican official should send a message

June 30--Robert Hoatson, an advocate for victims of child sexual abuse, thinks the multiple charges of sexual assault filed against Cardinal George Pell in Australia can send a message to organizations that have allegedly protected abusers within their ranks, including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.

Pell, the third-ranking official in the Vatican, has been ordered to appear in court next month, having been accused by police officials of committing vaguely described historical sexual assault offenses.

"I hope it sends the message that law enforcement is watching very carefully," said Hoatson, founder of the advocacy group Road to Recovery, who has offered support to many victims of alleged abuse perpetrated by priests and other religious leaders in Altoona-Johnstown. "No longer is the church going to be treated differently than any other organization or person."

Mitchell Garabedian, a nationally known Boston attorney who has represented local victims of child sexual abuse, said, "It sends a clear message to dioceses and orders around the world that child abuse will be prosecuted whenever possible."

For years, Garabedian and others have contended the alleged abuse and cover-up has gone to the very top of the Catholic Church. "I'm not surprised that a high-ranking Vatican official has been named as a sexual abuser," Garabedian said.

Pell has been granted a leave of absence to defend himself against what he called "false" charges and "relentless character assassination."

Bolivar resident Thomas Venditti, founder of the newly formed Faithful Catholics Against Pedophilia, discussed the charges, saying: "We believe in everyone's right to a fair trial. We also have been telling people for many years that the pedophilia problem within the Catholic Church goes very deeply into the Vatican.

"We support the complete and thorough investigation into the infiltration of pedophiles within the Catholic Church, including bishops and priests.

"As faithful Catholics, we completely reject any authority within the church that condones or covers up child abuse amongst the clergy, including bishops. These guilty men have brought great scandal to the church that so many of us love."

In 2016, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General released a grand jury report in which the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese was accused of carrying out a decades-long coverup of child sexual abuse under the guidance of former Bishops James Hogan and Joseph Adamec. At least 50 priests and other church leaders were accused of abuse in the report.

As a result of the commonwealth's investigation, three Franciscan friars -- Revs. Giles Schinelli, Robert D'Aversa and Anthony Criscitelli -- are facing felony charges of conspiracy and endangering the welfare of children.

As former ministers provincial of the Province of the Immaculate Conception of the Third Order, they are accused of giving Brother Stephen Baker assignments that provided him access to children, even though, as the state argues, they knew he posed a threat.

Baker is accused of sexually abusing hundreds of children, including during his time as an unlicensed trainer at Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown.

Dave Sutor is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at (814) 532-5056. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Sutor.

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