The diocese says, sure, we will post your story, then hides it in an apology that does not even name the perpetrator. Ralph White faces obstruction from the Episcopal Church, eerily similar to treatment received by Catholic victims.
At age 80, White wants the story about abuse he suffered at the hands of Gibson Bell at All Saints Parish published widely, as he still believes there are other victims. Story distributed by Janet Patterson, clergy sex crime victims' advocate, who can be reached at: snapkansas@hotmail.com
For more than 60 years, a Philadelphia man has been on a quest. In his attempts to tell his story of clergy sexual abuse during his teen years, he has been rejected, stonewalled, and intimidated.
Ralph E. White, Jr. endured physical abuse and institutional imprisonment following his threats to reveal his sexual abuse by the family minister, the late Rev. Dr. Gibson Bell.
After appealing to successive bishops and church authorities over a 30 year period, including extensive correspondence with indicted former bishop Charles Bennison, Mr. White received a written apology by church officials this year.
As his health declines from congestive heart failure, he wants follow through by church officials on their promise to publish his story/church apology in their newsletter and their agreement to help him financially for medical care.
Church leaders are ignoring repeated letters, e-mails, and phone calls from his pro bono attorney. Time is running out for Ralph White.
Short videos with Ralph White at YouTube:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=g6brUJCEZTw
The Episcopal Diocese apology to White from January 2008, can be read at; http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:gy5zkSpNfTgJ:www.diopa.org/assets/downloadables/Resolution-White.pdf+Gibson+Bell+Episcopal&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us
Wade, Goldstein, Landau & Abruzzo attorneys in Pennsylvania issued this statement about the case of Ralph White:
Mr. White, as an adolescent was sexually abused by Rev. Dr. Gibson Bell, his family’s minister and close friend. That he was sexually abused is tragic in itself, that the perpetrator was a member of the clergy made it all the more horrific. That it was covered up, worse—but comprehensible.
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When he tried to speak out as a young man, the perpetrator and his family conspired to have him committed to a state mental hospital
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Attorney statement continued:
But Mr. White’s story, and his suffering, is all the more horrific, because when he tried to speak out as a young man, the perpetrator and his family conspired to have him committed to a state mental hospital.
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