Survivors of childhood sexual abuse stand together figuratively. And on May 18 in Bradford, they will be standing together literally as well.
Clergy abuse survivors and Bradford natives Jim VanSickle and Ed Rodgers are organizing the event, which will be held at St. Bernard School on West Washington Street — the former Bradford Central Christian High School.
The event — A Call to Survivors — is 6 to 9 p.m. May 18 at the school.
Going to the school for the event is a bit daunting for Rodgers. His abuse was at the hands of former headmaster, and now monsignor, Desmond McGee — many times at the school as well as at McGee’s apartment and in his car. It started when Rodgers was 14.
“From 1986 to 1990 was the problem,” Rodgers said in a meeting with The Era. “When I was 16 … it was like something changed in him. It got more brutal … more frequent, more times, more violent.”
When he returns to the school May 18, it will be in the company of VanSickle, fellow survivors, local police chiefs, the district attorney, district judges, city, county and state legislators, church officials and maybe even Gov. Tom Wolf.
“We invited him,” Rodgers said, pulling out a yellow legal pad filled with names and phone numbers of people who have been invited so far. He’s invited Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, who hasn’t seen eye-to-eye with survivors on proposed reforms to state law regarding changes to statutes of limitations on civil and criminal prosecution for sexual abuse of a child.
Speaking of the people who have been invited, Rodgers said, “They’ve all been very interested and supportive.”
VanSickle explained this event is the first, but it certainly won’t be the last.
“We are planning to do these all over the state,” he said. He lives in Pittsburgh and said a survivors’ group has formed there, and another in Erie. He wants to form one in Bradford, as well.
“Out of this (event) we’re going to follow up with an informational session,” VanSickle said. “If people want to find out what’s going on in Harrisburg, let people know what survivors are doing, you know … let people know they are not alone and that we can provide them that kind of support.”
VanSickle has created a non-profit organization, of which Rodgers is also a part. It is called Courage to Heal.
Rodgers explained a bit about it, drawing from his own experience when he first came forward in 1990. He faced hatred, vitriol, ridicule and was even slapped across the face by a churchgoing woman who attempted to shame him for sullying McGee’s name.
“What happened to you is what I thought would happen to me when I came forward,” VanSickle said to Rodgers. “I would have never come forward until (his molester David) Poulson was accused again last February and I went through this hell all over again. I decided to come forward and support those kids.”
He wasn’t Poulson’s only victim, and wanted to show the children that he was there to support them, and knew what they had been through.
“I thought ‘Two kids, there’s three of us now,’” VanSickle said. And then he ended up in Harrisburg, and became part of Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s grand jury investigation and report. “There’s thousands of us now.
“I’ve been all over the state, country and the world,” VanSickle said.
Convincing Rodgers to join his voice with the survivors was a difficult sell.
“I’m in my hometown and I know how they treated me,” Rodgers told The Era. “I fought for three weeks before I decided to come stand next to Jim.”
What changed his mind?
“My wife said, ‘If you were willing to come forward and be treated the way you were before,’” Rodgers said. And, he explained, his wife added, “‘What’s the most important thing to you?’ She said, ‘If one child (is helped) by what you have to say, then it’s worth it.’”
And that was all it took. “I’m in now,” Rodgers said.
With a smile, VanSickle said, “The goal now is to save as many as we can. Why stop at one? Since I came forward, not just church survivors, but other individuals have reached out to me personally. I’m providing my ears just to listen.”
Both men said they hope the Catholic faithful will come out to support survivors as well.
“The church isn’t a bad place,” Rodgers said. “They have a lot of bad apples to clean up. Catholics aren’t bad. I am still Catholic. I haven’t been to church in 30 years, but I say my prayers before going to bed.”
When Rodgers joined VanSickle at St. Bernard Church earlier this year, he went inside to say a prayer. Not a prayer for himself, but a prayer for Bishop Donald Trautman and for McGee.
“They are the ones who need it most,” Rodgers said. He explained when he was 17, he reported his abuse to Trautman. Nothing was done. “They have to live with what they did. My soul is clean.”
VanSickle said the goals of Courage to Heal are advocacy, getting information to survivors and making sure survivors receive therapy.
And regarding the event to be held later this month in Bradford, VanSickle said it will be opened with a blessing by Father Ray Gramata.
“People will have a chance to come and stand with us.”
And, he added, he spoke to Bishop Lawrence Persico, who has a prior commitment and won’t be able to attend the event. However, VanSickle added with a laugh, “I want Bradford to know I just told (Persico) he could come down and do a Mass at St. Bernard anytime he wants.”
