'No more pain' victim wrote of Pa. priest sex abuse, as he and others took their own lives

Sam Ruland | York Daily Record

Show Caption Hide Caption 'Words are meaningless to me': Victims demand action, not words Representatives from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) held an event to demand reform from both the church and legislators.

In a detailed letter to the Diocese of Pittsburgh, a man outlined the extensive abuse he endured at the hands of a priest while serving as an altar boy in his hometown parish.

He classified his experiences as sexual, physical and emotional abuse — memories that plagued his mind for years, and ones he certainly couldn't escape.

The details recounted in his case, contained in last week's release of the Pennsylvania grand jury report on priest sex abuse, are graphic, describing situations involving anal and oral sex.

Through tears, he cried out, "No Father," as the Rev. Richard Dorsch held the victim's hand firm around the priest's genitals. And the other assaults were similar, just as intensely damaging, as the victim described.

When confronted with the allegations, Dorsch did not deny them. He did not act as though the name of the victim was one he didn't recognize.

Rather, he acknowledged the abuse — somewhat. He said he was "inappropriate with the victim." By Google standards, "inappropriate" is simply defined as "not suitable or proper in the circumstances."

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There was nothing simple about this abuse though.

The diocese began paying for the victim's mental health treatment in July 2008, one month after he attempted suicide.

He documented how he felt during those desperate moments:

“Early in the summer this year — in fact, it was the day of the summer solstice itself— I attempted to take my own life. It happened in the wee hours of the morning following a night of heavy drink, which my doctors have explained may have induced an inescapable episodic flashback of sexual abuse, which has haunted me over the years. This time, however, the pain of that flashback I couldn't stand any longer, and decided that enough was enough. No more pain I thought as I swallowed dozens of pills.”

Almost two years later, in March 2010, the diocese told the victim they would no longer pay for his mental health treatment. A reason or explanation was not given in the grand jury report. It is not certain if the victim was given one himself.

But what is certain is that the victim took his own life two months later.

And while his story is tragic, it's not the only one of its kind. The grand jury report documents 12 other priests whose victims either attempted suicide or died by suicide. One instance involves the priest himself, who died by suicide, claiming he also was a victim of abuse.

These are their stories, according to the grand jury report:

Diocese of Allentown

Very Rev. Henry E. Strassner

In November 2011, a then-63-year-old victim reported to the Diocese of Allentown that he had been sexually abused by Strassner when he was in seventh or eighth grade. The victim was made to perform oral sex on Strassner, and Strassner performed oral sex on him.

The victim did not report the abuse because he felt humiliated and subsequently became a "criminal all his life,” as a means of coping.

Within undated documents provided by the diocese were handwritten notes indicating two victims, both with deep personal issues, whom Strassner exploited for purposes of grooming and ultimately sexually abused.

According to the document, counseling was a part of their lives as they battled drugs and alcohol and even contemplated suicide. One of the victims was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following the abuse at the hands of Strassner.

Pa. priest talks about abuse, how Catholic church can move forward Father Daniel Richards of Saint Rose of Lima, in York, Pa., knows it will be a long road ahead for the Catholic church.

Diocese of Erie

The Rev. Joseph W. Jerge

Jerge' s ministerial timeline places him at two parishes after the diocese had officially confirmed the existence of several child victims of his sexual abuse and after he had been given psychological counseling. It is unclear which victims came forward with allegations against Jerge, but one such victim is particularly well-documented by the diocese.

The victim was a sophomore in high school when Jerge befriended him. Jerge took him on trips alone and fondled him on a number of occasions. Later in the victim’s life, he would be blackballed from employment and preemptively blocked from any attempt to be admitted into the seminary.

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In 1995, the victim applied for a position as director of Religious Education at one of the diocesan schools. The grand jury found documentation in diocese files that Bishop Donald Trautman personally instructed school administrators not to hire the victim, noting in a letter to Father William Kuba that he may be homosexual and may have attempted suicide.

Father Jerry (John) Kucan

On Jan. 8, 2007, Vicar General, Monsignor Robert J. Smith received a letter from a woman who stated that her husband had been molested by a priest in the mid-1950s when her husband served as an altar boy at St. Anthony's. The letter stated that her husband's cousins were also victims. This writer stated in the letter that her husband committed suicide in 1993 after a long struggle with depression.

She had spoken to her husband's therapist after his death, and the therapist told her that her husband's severe depression was a direct result of being molested at St. Anthony's as a child.

The writer stated that she had heard that other men who were molested at St. Anthony's had committed suicide. She stated that she knew that the offending priest was now dead, but that the Catholic Church was not excused for the abuse. She concluded her letter by asking Monsignor Smith how she could see any other reports on cases similar to this.

On Jan. 16, 2007, Monsignor Smith responded. In his letter, he wrote that he was very sorry to hear about the molestation of the writer's husband as a young boy and his subsequent suicide in 1993. The letter then stated that Smith was not aware of the priest who may have committed the crime against her husband.

Father Salvatore P. Luzzi

After several years teaching at Venango Christian High School, the Rev. Salvatore P. Luzzi was moved to St. Mark's Seminary, where he filled several roles.

Over the course of his 30-year ministry, he was accused of sexual misconduct by eight male victims ranging in age from early teens to early 20s. Some of these victims were groped, inappropriately kissed, hugged, and fondled. One allegation held him responsible for the suicide of a former student.

Diocese of Harrisburg

The Rev. Richard J. Barry

In 2002, a man reported a sexual abuse allegation against Barry to the diocese. The man, age 11 at the time of the abuse, reported to the diocese that Barry developed a friendship with the then-boy's mother, who was going through a divorce at the time.

The man who reported abuse to the diocese in 2002 remembered another boy, about his same age at the time, who spent time with Barry. He stated this boy had a similar experience with Barry, where he would sometimes spend several nights in a bed with Barry.

This boy developed issues with alcohol and drug use. The man who reported abuse to the diocese in 2002 stated the other boy committed suicide.

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The Rev. James Beeman

In July of 1991, a woman reported that Beeman sexually abused her daughter at St. Columbia in Bloomsburg from 1961 to 1964. When her daughter was 8 years old, the mother remembered seeing blood in her daughter's underwear. The daughter reported to the Diocese of Harrisburg in September 1991 that Beeman sexually assaulted her four times from 1961 to 1973. The daughter reported the following information, which was documented in a Diocesan summary of all allegations against Beeman.

- In catechism class, Beeman set up a projector to show films and held the daughter on his lap and touched her inappropriately.

- At age 7, the daughter had her tonsils removed and she was recovering in the hospital. Beeman raped her when he visited the hospital room.

- At age 13, he came to her house when her parents were away. He raped her at her house.

- At age 19, the abuse continued. Beeman raped her when she was pregnant.

Due to the constant abuse by Beeman, the daughter considered suicide. Beeman was confronted about the allegations in October 1991. He admitted the sexual abuse of this victim. He was issued a penal precept that revoked any priestly faculties.

The Rev. Kevin Kayda

In September of 2013, the Diocese of Harrisburg received a complaint from a concerned parent. The parent reported that Father Kevin Kayda was having inappropriate online communications with their minor daughter on Facebook. The diocese confronted Kayda and requested permission to forensically examine his computer. Kayda consented.

On Oct. 1, 2013, Kayda' s electronic items were turned over to a forensic company. The diocese also prepared to send Kayda to St. John Vianney Center for treatment. The forensic examination revealed pornographic material that included "adolescents." On Oct. 3, 2013, Kayda committed suicide.

He wrote multiple suicide notes and alluded to being an abuse victim himself, but he did not disclose the name of his alleged abuser.

The Rev. Guy Marsico

A man came forward in 1994 and reported he had been sexually molested by Father Guy Marsico while at St. Leo the Great when he was 13 years old.

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The boy's parents knew he wanted to be a priest and granted permission for the boy to stay overnight at the rectory with Marsico. Marsico told the victim they had to sleep in the same bed. He made the boy undress and gave him full body massages and touched his penis. Marsico put his mouth on the boy's penis.

The boy disclosed that he told his mother about the abuse when he was 14, but she did not tell anyone. The boy told his father about the abuse when he was 16, and his father did not tell anyone.

The boy felt strong enough to report the abuse to the Diocese of Harrisburg. Diocesan officials confronted Marsico, who admitted to sleeping in the same bed with the boy and giving him massages. Marsico sent the boy a letter of apology.

The Diocese of Harrisburg agreed to pay for prescription medications and counseling for the boy. The boy later found out that his counselor reported what occurred during his counseling to the diocese. The boy disclosed that he attempted suicide in 1986.

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Diocese of Pittsburgh

The Rev. David F. Dzermejko

Files obtained by subpoena from the Diocese of Pittsburgh, reflected that Father David Dzermejko was reported to have had inappropriate contact with several young boys — conduct which included anal and oral sexual assaults of young minors.

In June 2009, the diocese first received a report that Dzermejko had sexually abused a minor child. A woman called to report that prior to her husband's suicide in April 2009, he told her that he had been sexually abused by Dzermejkko. It occurred sometime between 1979 and 1984.

The first incident took place in Dzermejko's car where the victim "had been pushed back in the seat of the car and Dzermejko touched his chest and did other things to him that he would not detail."

The second incident occurred when the victim was on a ferris wheel ride with Dzermejko during a church festival. During this incident, Dzermejko “fondled" the victim. The victim went on to add that Dzermejko had warned him, "You can't tell anyone. I'll tell your mother."

After meeting with representatives from the diocese, it was decided that this victim's family would be provided funds for counseling.

The Rev. Charles Ginder

In 2007, a 69-year-old male living in Florida called the diocese to report that he had been molested by Ginder as a child.

Ginder would wait outside in the morning to offer the victim rides. He did not provide specific details. However, he explained that after a few occasions, he no longer accepted rides from Ginder.

He stated that the abuse he suffered caused his marriage to fail and that he harbored feelings of guilt. The victim also noted that he had attempted suicide. He further related that he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Over the years he had been in and out of hospitals and experienced terrible nightmares as a result of the abuse.

The Rev. John S. Hoehl

In an email on Nov. 2, 2004, a 1979 Quigley graduate wrote to Father Ronald Lengwin about Hoehl. He stated that when he was a student, he was approached by Hoehl.

However, he was able to avoid being molested by him. He said others in his class were not so lucky. The male advised that his cousin was molested by "that creature” Hoehl and that another friend of his committed suicide because of what Hoehl did to him.

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He expressed a strong concern because other priests and adults affiliated with the school were aware that Hoehl was giving the boys drugs and alcohol and having them spend the night at his house.

He stated that as an adult, he now he realizes how the adults at the school buried their heads in the sand. He wrote: "Not one adult did anything to stop it" and "to say that there was no knowledge or conspiracy is ludicrous and a flat-out lie."

The Rev. Henry Krawczyk

In February 2005, Krawczyk pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter. The charge stemmed from a cookout that Krawczyk hosted on June 17, 2003 wherein he supplied alcohol to several underage University of Pittsburgh football players. One of the players fell from the roof of St. Anne to his death.

In November 2006, the Diocese of Pittsburgh drafted a confidential memorandum pertaining to an allegation of sexual abuse against Krawczyk. Two brothers reported that Krawczyk engaged in sexual activity with their younger brother. Their younger brother told them that he and Krawczyk would frequently get high and drunk together.

On one occasion, he passed out and awoke to Krawczyk performing oral sex on him. He committed suicide in August, 2006. The brothers requested that the diocese pay and/or reimburse them for their brother's drug treatment as well as funeral expenses. These requests were granted.

The Rev. James E. Somma

In a handwritten letter dated Sept. 17, 1986, Father Nicholas Dattilo stated that he spoke with a victim over the telephone. She claimed that a priest sexually abused her for seven years from age 11 until 18. The victim stated that she "expressed concern that the priest was now a pastor and could be out there harming other children."

Dattilo and another priest subsequently met with Father James E. Somma following another telephone call from the victim in January, 1988. Dattilo concluded that Somma should not be removed from ministry based on his "strong denial, sterling military career, the passage of time and the victim's admitted psychiatric treatment."

According to handwritten notes dated Feb. 18, 1988, Somma was evaluated at St. Luke's Institute. A portion of the notes stated, "May need counseling from neuro-psycho rehabilitation person."

On March 20, 2002, the victim sent a letter to Dattilo advising that she was in counseling, had obtained an attorney, and had filed a lawsuit.

Articles from several newspapers do not provide her name, but report that Somma forced her to engage in oral sex and sexual intercourse with him until her late teens. The lawsuit was dismissed based upon the statute of limitations.

Since then, she reported that she has been hospitalized for serious, clinical depression and attempted suicide twice. She requested a settlement of $900,000 — $20,000 per year since the beginning of her “ordeal.”

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