Child Victims Act left behind in state’s budget, kept alive by survivors

In March of 2015, Chancellor Father Steve Angi of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati assumed to have made an agreement with a family member that the Archdiocese would have a meeting with the parents, concerning the violations to the Decree on Child Protection involving their minor daughter and Father Jeff Bacon. After delaying in having the meeting, Father Angi called the parents on April 17, 2015 and informed them there would be no meeting, they had taken care of the priest. It appears the priest was not taken care of. The Archdiocese finally removed Father Bacon from Holy Cross Immaculata parish in November 2015 under ongoing allegations from another girl. A criminal investigation was started and the Archdiocese became involved with treatment and counselling of the victim while the investigation was being conducted. Did this involve paying the victim, church funds to cover these costs? What are the legalities of compensating a victim during a criminal investigation? During this time Father Bacon was sent out of state and listed as being on “Medical Leave”. When he returned in March of 2016, Father Bacon was allowed to “Resign” from Holy Cross Immaculata parish, no explanation was given. A Catholic priest informed the family that it was imperative that the Archdiocese explain to the entire family what had been done wrong in this situation, so that healing could begin for the entire family. That has never happened. Attorney Jerry Kristal of Lawyers Helping Survivors of Child Sex Abuse is very correct in a much broader aspect of these cases when he states these victims need “recognition that this really happened and some measure of the church taking responsibility.” In this situation, how many more victims are still out there suffering? Why has the Archdiocese hired an attorney to investigate and try to obtain the information contained in the criminal investigation of Father Bacon? The abuse in the Catholic Church is still going on and being covered up. It is time that all State Legislators implement appropriate laws to protect these victims and hold those accountable, who cover up these acts. This is not in the “Past” as the Catholic Church wants you to believe, but is being covered up using published rules and regulations that have no enforcement power. It is at the discretion of the leader of the Archdiocese when and how these rules are to be enforced.