PA- Marianist brother accused of abuse in Australia spent time in Pittsburgh
For immediate release: Thursday, March 20, 2014
Statement Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected])
A US Marianist brother is set to stand trial in Australia for abusing boys and girls in the 1970s and 80s. We are glad he is facing justice in Australia, but believe it is likely he abused kids in the US too.
http://www.ozteacher.com.au/news/innocence-stolen-by-man-of-god-vic-victim/27139
Brother Bernard Joseph Hartman worked in Australia until 1985 when he came back to the US and worked in Pittsburgh from 1986 until 1998. Hartman is accused of sexually abusing at least 4 children at St Paul’s College between 1976 and 1982.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2011/11_12/2011_12_05_Beyerlein_MarianistBrother.htm
With 25 years of experience we believe given the opportunity Hartman would have abused children in the US parishes he worked too. Predators rarely abuse once, and Hartman already has a track record of abusing more than one child.
We want Bishop David A. Zubik, to visit every parish Hartman worked at and beg witnesses, whistleblowers and victims to come forward, report to police and get help.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 15,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747,[email protected]), Peter Isely (414-429-7259, [email protected]), Joelle Casteix (949-322-7434, [email protected])
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
Showing 2 comments
As always, Father Ron Lengwin, official spokesperson for the Pittsburgh Diocese explains it all away by paraphrasing the words made famous by the Nazi sergeant on Hogan’s Heros, “I know nothing.”
Since January of this year I forced the Pittsburgh Diocese to send out three letters warning parishioners and past students of catholic clerics credibly accused of molesting children. How is it that a 9-dollar an hour security guard has the wherewithal to protect children but the Pittsburgh Diocese lacks the resources and the gumption to do the same?
Again, I would be willing to offer my knowledge based on my 25 years of research on clergy sex abuse and other crimes in the Pittsburgh Diocese free of charge. I’m committed to helping survivors, one has to wonder if the Pittsburgh Diocese is also committed?
Here’s some background information I would like to share with the Pittsburgh Diocese concerning the harm done by Father John Wellinger. I happen to know personally that there are still victims who have not only been harmed by Wellinger, but also the Pittsburgh Diocese.
This link provides facts on Father John Wellinger past behavior: http://mikeference.blogspot.com/2013/12/red-flags.html