By Tricia L. Nadolny / The Philadelphia Inquirer
PHILADELPHIA — One man held his cellphone toward the audience, panning to capture the long-awaited moment
A mother held a photo of her son, his wide smile belying a pain she said drove him to substance abuse and death at age 31.
Five sisters — each a victim of abuse by the same Roman Catholic priest — held one another.
“These women no longer need to be silenced,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said of the sisters, seated behind him on stage as he discussed a sweeping grand jury report alleging abuse by 301 priests and a decades-long cover up by church officials state-wide. “Today the grand jury finally gives this family of victims their voice.”
The much-anticipated report was based on the allegations of more than 1,000 individual victims. On Tuesday, a group of victims and family members of victims, 16 in all, joined Shapiro on stage, and others filled the audience. Although few chose to speak publicly, some of their stories were told in a video played as the conference began.
“Who would have believed me?” 83-year-old Robert Corby said in the film. “A priest, in 1948 or ‘47, would abuse you?”
“It doesn’t ever go away,” said 48-year-old Shaun Dougherty. “It has an effect on you for the rest of your life.”
“It’s very lonely,” said 37-year-old Carolyn Fortney, one of the five sisters. “Especially when it’s your word against God’s.”
The room was silent, but for the clatter of camera shutters and the cries of those on stage.
The sisters said they were abused by Rev. Gus Giella of the Diocese of Harrisburg. Shapiro on Tuesday said church officials became aware of allegations against Giella five years before removing him from ministry. He said Giella was charged in 1992, after the girls’ mothers went to the police. He died awaiting trial.
In a statement, family members said they needed a few days to “contemplate the magnitude” of the report before sharing their story.
“While five sisters were the first victims, our family and second generations continue to be impacted,” they said. “The depth of this abuse has been life-altering for this and future generations.”
James VanSickle, who has accused Rev. David Poulson of the Diocese of Erie of abuse, was in attendance and called the report ” a victory, a major victory,” for those longing to be heard. But he said the day did not bring closure.
“I think that all of us will have a hole in our soul for the rest of our lives,” he said, standing with two other victims and surrounded by a crush of cameras and reporters. “Healing is impossible.”
“Catholicism is in my DNA, but they killed something in me,” Juliann Bortz, beside him, said in response.
“But we can help others,” VanSickle said. “And through that help we’ve begun to heal ourselves.”
They said they will continue to help other victims and lobby for legislative changes, such as eliminating the statute of limitations on how long victims of childhood sexual abuse have to file civil complaints.
“This is the murder of a soul,” said James Faluszczak, a former priest who says he was abused by a priest as a child in the Diocese of Erie. “There is no statute of limitations on the crime of murder.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
