Advocacy group calls for Youngstown Diocese investigation | WKBN.com

It seems that the Diocese of Youngstown (OH) and the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown (PA) debacles, specifically Brother Stephen Baker's involvement, are connected.  What appears to have brought about Hoatson's call to arms is this:

Youngstown Catholic Bishop George Murry is being called on to settle 28 cases of child sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated Brother Stephen Baker, who was a coach at Warren John F. Kennedy High School in the 1980's and 1990's.
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The recently completed Pennsylvania investigation revealed decades of alleged systematic protection of sexual predators within the community of priests and religious leaders in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona Johnstown, including Brother Stephen Baker.

Both articles concerning Diocese of Youngstown also cite this narrative, Poland mother who says her son’s suicide resulted from being sexually abused by a priest at JFK demands transparency, as possible impetus.   The Diocese response as reported through March 7, 2016:

In 2013, the Youngstown Diocese announced abuse settlements with 11 former students of Baker’s. Road to Recovery says 28 more students are still waiting for Bishop George Murry to settle their claims.

Monsignor John Zuraw, chancellor of the Diocese of Youngstown, said the diocese does not have a secret archive, nor does it have secret files. He said the situation is completely different from one that was reported at the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese.

“This is the second wave of individuals who have come forward,” he said.

Zuraw said the diocese is working with its legal counsel and the victims’ legal counsel. While he said the diocese had no idea of Brother Baker’s inappropriate behavior, the Youngstown Diocese did reach out to staff and teachers who were at JFK.

He said the staff that was contacted said they weren’t aware of the alleged abuse.

The Catholic Church is in deep trouble as I feel this story, including both Ohio and Pennsylvania, are going to get much worse.

The leader of a national support group for victims of sexual abuse by priests and other Catholic Church clergy today called upon county prosecutors in Mahoning and Trumbull counties to urge Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine to launch an aggressive investigation into sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.

At a press conference this morning outside the headquarters of the diocese, Robert Hoatson, president of the New Jersey-based Road to Recovery, “We want the same type of investigation as was done in Altoona {Pa.].”[sic]
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About 50 cases of abuse at JFK and St. Mary’s Middle School in Warren have been reported, and the dioceses has settled about 11 of those claims, Hoatson said.

All speakers also criticized Youngstown Bishop George Murry and diocesan leaders for their handling of the cases.

Advocacy group calls for Youngstown Diocese investigation | WKBN.com

Paterson Diocese settles sex abuse case from 1977 - News - NorthJersey.com

The Paterson Roman Catholic Diocese acknowledged Monday that it settled yet another case of sexual abuse allegations against Monsignor Ronald J. Tully, this time involving a woman who accused the one-time Passaic Catholic high school administrator of repeatedly fondling her decades ago.

The diocese now has paid at least nine victims an estimated $2.1 million to settle cases of abuse against Tully, who has been barred from working as a priest since 2004. In the latest case, the first against Tully to involve a female victim, the accuser alleges that Tully fondled her 20 times in 1977 when she was a 16-year-old student at Pope Pius High School in Passaic. Tully was then the high school’s vice principal.

Mitchell Garabedien, the woman’s Boston-based attorney, said his client came to him several months ago after having a conversation about Tully with someone who gave her “the courage to come forward.” The woman, who still lives in New Jersey, hopes her actions will encourage other women to come forward, whether about Tully or other cases, Garabedian said.
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Mullaney said the settlement is not an admission of “fact or liability,” and that church officials did not conduct a hearing related to the allegations because Tully already is stripped of his priestly faculties. The diocese review board, he said, reviews abuse cases to determine whether priests should be placed on leave.

“There’s really no reason to have a review board meeting because it’s a fait accompli,” Mullaney said.

Paterson Diocese settles sex abuse case from 1977 - News - NorthJersey.com