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July 2007
A Survivor Who Didn’t Make It: James Craig Hoatson, 1949-1978
The first cousin of Road to Recovery founder Fr. Bob Hoatson killed himself in the mountains of Morris County, New Jersey on October 10, 1978. The family was devastated. “Jimmy” was a handsome, athletic, talented young man with a wife and two children. It was revealed that he had been sexually pursued and abused by a Christian Brother who taught him at Essex Catholic High School in Newark, NJ. Suicide often occurs in the aftermath of sexual abuse by clergy. Two weeks after Jimmy’s abuser was confronted about the abuse, he dropped dead of heart attack.
Joe Capozzi: New Jersey Hero
Within one year of his coming forward with information about his abuse by Msgr. Peter Cheplic, Joseph Capozzi, a native of Ridgefield, NJ, went public, filed a lawsuit, received a settlement, and joined the Road to Recovery efforts to guarantee justice for others. Joe is a Broadway, film, and television actor whose dreams were delayed by the sexual abuse of a Newark, NJ Archdiocesan priest, who happened to be a good friend of Joe’s family. Like most sexual abusers, Cheplic endeared himself to the family in order to gain access to the handsome, personable, and innocent Joseph Capozzi.
Where the Rubber Meets the "Road to Recovery": Survivor Success Stories
Since its inception, Road to Recovery has been fulfilling its mission to address the emotional, psychological, financial, and spiritual needs of survivors. The following letter appeared in the May 20, 2005 edition of the National Catholic Reporter:
Resources
Alpha Behavioral Care, P.A.
Our therapists include a team of highly trained psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, and social workers who are all up-to-date on the newest treatment methods. Some of our specialties include the treatment of stress, depression, personality and anxiety disorders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do about my sexual abuse?
The first step is to acknowledge it to yourself and then take the steps necessary to heal from its effects.
How long do I have to tell someone about my abuse?
Simple stated, it is never too late…even if you are in your nineties! What is crucial is to do something about the abuse. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t deal with your secrets, your secrets will deal with you.”
What is the first step now that I have contacted Road to Recovery?
About Road to Recovery
In response to the emergence of the clergy abuse crisis in the Roman Catholic Church in 2002, one priest advocate and another priest survivor/advocate collaborated in the development of a “first-stage service” called Rescue&Recovery International, Inc.