Franciscan Friars Conventual Remove a Priest after a Sexual Abuse Allegation Surfaces from a Victim

Road to Recovery
May 20, 2014

http://www.road-to-recovery.org/

Fr. Michael Lewandowski was removed from a parish in Davidsville, PA but was stationed in several parishes and schools throughout New York and Massachusetts, and maybe other states as well.

The Franciscan Friars Conventual must notify the public about where Lewandowski worked so that other sexual abuse victims of Fr. Lewandowski can come forward and begin to heal.

What: A press conference dealing with the recent removal of Fr. Michael Lewandowski, OFM Conv., as Pastor of St. Ann’s Parish in Davidsville, PA (Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, PA) because of an allegation of clergy sexual abuse against him. Fr. Lewandowski was stationed in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York (and possibly many other places) during his priesthood.

When: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 11:00 AM

Where: On the public sidewalk outside the headquarters of the Franciscan Friars Conventual

Religious Order, Our Lady of the Angels Province (formerly St. Anthony of Padua Province), 12300 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042 – 410-531-1400

Who: Robert M. Hoatson, Co-founder and President of Road to Recovery, Inc., a non-profit charity that assists victims of sexual abuse and their families and a survivor of clergy sexual abuse himself; Kevin Waldrip, a survivor of clergy sexual abuse whose abuser served jail time; supporters of the courageous victim; and friends.

Why: A courageous survivor of clergy sexual abuse has come forward to report that his/her life was significantly altered by a trusted Roman Catholic priest, Fr. Michael Lewandowski, in or associated with a Catholic institution owned, operated, or staffed by the Franciscan Friars Conventual. Road to Recovery applauds the courage of the survivor and reaches out to her/him with support and encouragement. We want him/her to know that he/she is not alone. We also will call upon the Franciscan Friars of Ellicott City, MD, the headquarters of the recently-established Province of the Angels, comprising the entire East coast and missions in other countries, to travel to every parish and/or institution in which Fr. Michael Lewandowski ministered to notify the public about the sexual abuse allegations against Fr. Lewandowski so that other clergy sexual abuse victims can come forward to begin their healing.