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])


Showing 2 comments

  • Michael Ference
    commented 2014-03-22 17:37:32 -0500
    For the fourth time in less than three months, a Roman Catholic cleric with ties to the Pittsburgh Diocese makes the news and for all the wrong reasons. Brother Bernard Joseph Hartman who taught at North Central High School in the Pittsburgh Diocese from 1986 to 1997 and short stints 1961 and 1979 is facing trial Australia on multiple charges of beating and molesting four children.
    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
  • @ tweeted this page. 2014-03-20 09:56:31 -0500

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