Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 20 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds   

Rape by Episcopal pedophile clergy results in same frustrated justice as Catholic survivors face

By       (Page 1 of 4 pages)   1 comment
Message Kay Ebeling
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Raped by Episcopal clergy as a teen, 80 year old victim still trying to get justice from Diocese in PA. Gets doubletalk, empty promises instead
*
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.

****************
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
**********************************

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.

While he was imprisoned, his father died, and his mother rewrote her will to disinherit her son and gave her entire estate, his inheritance, to the very perpetrator.

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3  |  4

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Rate It | View Ratings

Kay Ebeling Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Wordsmith working in TV production in Los Angeles. Also free lance journalist with an active blog. Old enough to have demonstrated against the Vietnam War but still young enough to dance.
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

30 more victims of one pedophile priest come forward when book published, probably just the tip of the iceberg

31 pedophile allegations against former Catholic Bishop Lawrence Soens

Attack of the Bishops: What happens when you advocate for sex crime victims in the Catholic Church in Geneva, Illinois

Investigating pedophile priests in one small town

Rape by Episcopal pedophile clergy results in same frustrated justice as Catholic survivors face

Pedophile priest rape survivor publishes book on his assautls, finds 30 more victims of same perpetrator, Syracuse area

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend