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. Formally established in 2005, as a New Jersey non-profit 501 (c) (3) charity, it has provided emotional, psychological, financial, and spiritual assistance to survivors as they attempt to recover from the effects of having been sexually abused by members of the clergy. In 2007, a group of Catholics from northwestern New Jersey “adopted” the work of Rescue&Recovery International, organized a business plan for its present and future success, and supported the plan through contributed and financial services. The two priests involved in Road to Recovery are Fr. Robert M. Hoatson, its President/Founder, and Fr. Kenneth E. Lasch, who has been an advocate for survivors of abuse since 1985. Bob Hoatson is a survivor of sexual abuse while a member of the Christian Brothers and as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Newark. He earned a doctor of philosophy degree from Fordham University in 1987. Ken Lasch is retired from the parish in Mendham, NJ where at least two dozen boys were sexually abused by a former pastor. Fr. Ken has continued his advocacy, unabated, for over twenty years. Both priests are available for assistance to survivors.

Road to Recovery Advisory Board

Road to Recovery has assembled an impressive group as its Advisory Board. It includes men and women, survivors and mental health professionals, advocates and supporters.

The current members of our board include:

Rev. John Bambrick
Survivor of Clergy Abuse and Pastor, Toms River, NJ

Bill Bowen
National Director, Silent Lambs, Jehovah Witness Survivors, TX

Jeffrey Bradley
Psychotherapist to Abuse Survivors, Milton, MA

Barry Coldrey, CFC
Author and Victims’ Advocate, Australia

Thomas Doyle, OP
Victims’ Advocate and Author, Vienna, VA

Gary Hayes
Survivor and Founder, “Jordan’s Crossing”, Syracuse, NY

Colm O’Gorman
Survivor and Founder, “One in Four,” and Elected Member of Ireland’s legislature

Vicki Polin
Survivor and Founder, “The Awareness Center - Jewish Sexual Abuse”, Baltimore, MD

Theresa Padovano
Director, Northern New Jersey Voice of the Faithful

Paulette Peterson
Survivor and Psychotherapist to Survivors, Northampton, MA

William Richardson, MD
Psychiatrist and Therapist to Survivors, Summit, NJ

Juan Jose Vaca
Mexican Survivor of Clergy Abuse and Professor of Psychology, New York City