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Three former leaders of a Franciscan religious order in Pennsylvania have been charged over allowing a friar who was a known sexual predator to repeatedly work with children, including as a high school athletic trainer who massaged students naked.
“These men knew there was a child predator in their organization. Yet they continued to put him in positions where he had countless opportunities to prey upon children,” Kane said at the press conference. “Their silence resulted in immeasurable pain and suffering for so many victims. These men turned a blind eye to the innocent children they were trusted to protect.”
Baker was given various positions in schools including one as the athletic trainer of Bishop McCort Catholic High School in Johnstown, where statements by those abused alleged Baker would grope the genitals of male children, according to the grand jury’s report.
The men charged Giles Schinelli, 73; Robert D’Aversa, 69; and Anthony M. Criscitelli, 61 served as ministers for the Third Order Regulars in the Roman Catholic Church in western Pennsylvania from 1986 to 2010. They have been given until Friday to surrender, according to prosecutors.
The grand jury that investigated Baker’s case is the same grand jury that compiled the report released two weeks ago on the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese.
The fact that charges are being filed against the men is what sets this case apart from the report accusing the two former Altoona-Johnstown bishops of covering up abuse claims against more than 50 priests, according to the press conference. In that case, the statute of limitations had prevented from prosecutors from taking action against the men involved.
“The evidence shows the organization’s leaders acted callously when dealing with members accused of sexual abuse,” Kane said. “No reports were ever made to law enforcement. As the grand jury found, the ultimate priority was to avoid public scrutiny at all costs.”
Baker died by suicide in 2013 after abuse allegations rose against him for acts he committed while working as a teacher and sports trainer in Ohio. He was found with stab wounds to the chest.
The grand jury found that ministers knew of sexual abuse allegations against Baker in 1988, but still assigned him to Bishop McCort in 1992 where he was given multiple opportunities to be in contact with children. Baker worked at the school from 1992 till 2000.
The grand jury also found Schinelli sent Baker for psychological evaluation and was informed Baker should not be permitted to have one-on-one contact with children, but still continued to allow Baker’s transfer to Bishop McCourt.
D’Aversa allegedly failed to tell school officials and law enforcement of the reason Baker was taken out of the school in 2000.
Criscitelli then again gave Baker access to children when he allowed Baker to work in a shopping mall.
“These men were concerned with protecting the Order than the flock that they serve,” Kane said. “Their silence resulted in immeasurable pain and suffering for so many victims.”
Agencies/Canadajournal
Christians to do this to believers in their own church is disgraceful and unacceptable.