Road to Recovery, Inc.
(assisting victims of sexual abuse and their families)
P.O. Box 279
Livingston, NJ 07039
862-368-2800
April 20, 2025
It is sad whenever a brother or sister passes away, and the death of Pope Francis is indeed sad after he served twelve-years as leader of the Catholic Church. The Pope tried to bring the Church more fully into the 21st Century, but he was met constantly with opposition and criticism. Unfortunately, the deceased Pope’s attempts to resolve the clergy sexual abuse scandal and crisis were largely unsuccessful.
Pope Francis tried to address and resolve the clergy sexual abuse crisis using antiquated traditional methods of establishing “committees.” He appointed lay persons to the “committee” on clergy sexual abuse but they wholly resigned after suffering further abuse when nothing important and demanded were implemented. Pope Francis had the power and authority to effectuate the firing and removal of any bishop or priest who abused or covered up the abuse, but his firings were few and far between.
He did not act effectively, and the scandal and crisis has never abated to this day. No doubt, millions of members of the “flock” continue to be denied justice and healing. The healing of these innocent members deserved and deserve better by the Vatican, and we fear that a retaliatory cabal of Bishops and Cardinals will resume the tactics that placed the crisis under cover for centuries.
Victim/survivors deserve better, and Road to Recovery, Inc. led by a retired priest and a former priest forced to leave the priesthood by at least one corrupt bishop, will continue to assist victims of sexual abuse, especially by clergy and Church personnel.
Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D.
Co-founder and President
Road to Recovery, Inc.
