Click here to read: “Friar who headed Archbishop Ryan to be paroled,” by Julie Shaw, The Philadelphia Daily News, December 22, 2013
ARTHUR BASELICE Jr. is a lost soul, a man destroyed by the Catholic Church.
His son, Arthur Baselice III, died at age 28 of a drug overdose, and the father has blamed Charles Newman, the Franciscan friar and former president of Archbishop Ryan High School, for his death.
Newman was convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school and his religious order. He was sentenced in May 2009 to three to six years in state prison, followed by 10 years’ probation.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131222_Friar_who_headed_Archbishop_Ryan_to_be_paroled.html#eOc7ev8lCHZoHsyH.99
ARTHUR BASELICE Jr. is a lost soul, a man destroyed by the Catholic Church.
His son, Arthur Baselice III, died at age 28 of a drug overdose, and the father has blamed Charles Newman, the Franciscan friar and former president of Archbishop Ryan High School, for his death.
Newman was convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school and his religious order. He was sentenced in May 2009 to three to six years in state prison, followed by 10 years’ probation.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131222_Friar_who_headed_Archbishop_Ryan_to_be_paroled.html#eOc7ev8lCHZoHsyH.99
ARTHUR BASELICE Jr. is a lost soul, a man destroyed by the Catholic Church.
His son, Arthur Baselice III, died at age 28 of a drug overdose, and the father has blamed Charles Newman, the Franciscan friar and former president of Archbishop Ryan High School, for his death.
Newman was convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school and his religious order. He was sentenced in May 2009 to three to six years in state prison, followed by 10 years’ probation.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131222_Friar_who_headed_Archbishop_Ryan_to_be_paroled.html#eOc7ev8lCHZoHsyH.99
Excerpt: Arthur Baselice Jr. is a lost soul, a man destroyed by the Catholic Church.
His son, Arthur Baselice III, died at age 28 of a drug overdose, and the father has blamed Charles Newman, the Franciscan friar and former president of Archbishop Ryan High School, for his death.
Newman was convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school and his religious order. He was sentenced in May 2009 to three to six years in state prison, followed by 10 years’ probation.
Editor’s note: The unimaginable grief the Baselice family has gracefully endured moved Kathy and myself deeply at the outset of Catholics4Change. It has remained one of our motivating forces. They have worked tirelessly to bring justice to victims and protect other children from sexual predators. Our prayers are with them and with 2014 we rededicate ourselves to helping them ensure that window legislation happens and the statute of limitations for child sex abuse is eliminated in Pennsylvania.
ARTHUR BASELICE Jr. is a lost soul, a man destroyed by the Catholic Church.
His son, Arthur Baselice III, died at age 28 of a drug overdose, and the father has blamed Charles Newman, the Franciscan friar and former president of Archbishop Ryan High School, for his death.
Newman was convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school and his religious order. He was sentenced in May 2009 to three to six years in state prison, followed by 10 years’ probation.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131222_Friar_who_headed_Archbishop_Ryan_to_be_paroled.html#eOc7ev8lCHZoHsyH.99
ARTHUR BASELICE Jr. is a lost soul, a man destroyed by the Catholic Church.
His son, Arthur Baselice III, died at age 28 of a drug overdose, and the father has blamed Charles Newman, the Franciscan friar and former president of Archbishop Ryan High School, for his death.
Newman was convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school and his religious order. He was sentenced in May 2009 to three to six years in state prison, followed by 10 years’ probation.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131222_Friar_who_headed_Archbishop_Ryan_to_be_paroled.html#eOc7ev8lCHZoHsyH.99
ARTHUR BASELICE Jr. is a lost soul, a man destroyed by the Catholic Church.
His son, Arthur Baselice III, died at age 28 of a drug overdose, and the father has blamed Charles Newman, the Franciscan friar and former president of Archbishop Ryan High School, for his death.
Newman was convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school and his religious order. He was sentenced in May 2009 to three to six years in state prison, followed by 10 years’ probation.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131222_Friar_who_headed_Archbishop_Ryan_to_be_paroled.html#eOc7ev8lCHZoHsyH.99
ARTHUR BASELICE Jr. is a lost soul, a man destroyed by the Catholic Church.
His son, Arthur Baselice III, died at age 28 of a drug overdose, and the father has blamed Charles Newman, the Franciscan friar and former president of Archbishop Ryan High School, for his death.
Newman was convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school and his religious order. He was sentenced in May 2009 to three to six years in state prison, followed by 10 years’ probation.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131222_Friar_who_headed_Archbishop_Ryan_to_be_paroled.html#eOc7ev8lCHZoHsyH.99
ARTHUR BASELICE Jr. is a lost soul, a man destroyed by the Catholic Church.
His son, Arthur Baselice III, died at age 28 of a drug overdose, and the father has blamed Charles Newman, the Franciscan friar and former president of Archbishop Ryan High School, for his death.
Newman was convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the school and his religious order. He was sentenced in May 2009 to three to six years in state prison, followed by 10 years’ probation.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131222_Friar_who_headed_Archbishop_Ryan_to_be_paroled.html#eOc7ev8lCHZoHsyH.99
What a tragedy for that poor family. Best of “luck” to Pennsylvania in eliminating
SOL’s. We managed that in Illinois this year but did not ask for a window which we have had in the past. In arguments for better protecting kids and getting justice for them we widely used the case of Penn. State as an example of the need for removal of
SOL’s not only in churches but everywhere and emphacized that many of us are grandparents and wanted our grandchildren safe. Also, the bishops org. was so busy opposing gay marriage they did not put energy into fighting us. I think they were probably greatly surprised. We were surprised and thrilled.
Would I be wrong to say a murderer is being released back into society ?
What a heartbreaking story ONCE AGAIN! Evidently our justice system, courts, prisons, etc. are no better than the church. Don’t any of them consider this crime worthy of more than 4 yrs. in prison? Aren’t any of the people involved in this decision parents or grandparents? How can they let this animal roam the streets again leaving more children at his mercy after such a short time? Do they have hearts or souls? You would think that the theft of that amount of money alone would warrant more prison time, since the people in charge all seem to worship money more than children.
7 Laws have been passed recently to further protect children in PA. Having met Arthur many times at the vigils I pray he gets the justice for his son he deserves and that laws continue to be added and passed. I am really at a loss for words…..Arthur’s sons story has touched my heart and forever changed my view of the catholic church as well as many other things……….
My heart goes out to the victims and to Art and all the families that have had to endure these most horrible crimes against our children and to all of humanity at the hands of the Roman Catholic church hierarchy.. When I see his son’s picture at the vigils I feel it could have been my son. They are the same age. My son was at O’Hara when Brennan was there, in the mid 90’s. Still wondering when his re-trial will take place…I, as a parent, feel what if……….. I can’t imagine.
Jesus knows all.
Denise
We have only met Arthur during the trial involving Msgr Lynn. As the verdict was read, a friend of mine held his hand and in that hand was a small packet of ashes in memory of his son. What a wonderful and fantastic person Art is and I am sure that his family is the same. His story is such a tragedy and for the Archdiocese to simply ignore the pain of this great person is unbelievable. Pope Francis seems to state that the main mission of the Church is to show love and compassion and to reach out to those who are suffering. This Archdiocese does not come up to that spirit of discipleship. We all have our failings and blotches on our lives, but Art and his family have suffered what many of us could never comprehend unless we were victims ourselves. Art would not accept what I am about to say but he and his family are the true saints of Philadelphia. They have suffered enough. The great miracle is that they still care for all the victims and work to challenge any injustice perpetrated by this “Moral authority Institution”.
What can we do? Nancy Mortimer O’Brien
For those of you in PA, this is a classic case for a reason to extend the statute of limitations in these sex crimes against our children. This convicted felon has not been stripped of his priestly duties. Can you imagine, he can still say Mass, changing bread and wine to the Body & Blood of Jesus Christ. This is so tragic, for I can not help but think our Holy Father took the name of Francis (the Franciscan), and here one of his priest brothers, a Franciscan Friar, former president of one of the largest Catholic high schools in the country, is still permitted to say Mass.
Father Newman may have committed enough crime to put him away for life, for there are four major crimes to consider: sexual abuse of students, purchasing drugs, using/selling/giving drugs to others, stealing from the Church.
To see something so hurtful is to put a face on the parents: see their photo in an article covered here in Catholics4Change when they met with the archbishop in September 2012
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/09/in_harrisburg_to_meet_lawmaker.html
I will pray for them this Christmas season.
If you live in PA you need to contact your state senator and state representative to pass
SB 681 to afford more protection to our children. It has already passed the senate by a 50-0 vote.
Beyond my interest on behalf of all victims of sexual crimes against our children, and in seeing Newman stand trial for these crimes, I have to wonder if he ever made sexual advances toward my son, Brendan, who too was a student at Ryan in a class taught by this criminal. The crimes by Newman surfaced after my son’s fatal auto accident in 1992.
John Heary
Weeping from the inside out for this man, Arthur and his family. Sat in church today and just cried.
Everyone is saying Merry Christmas and asking what I’m doing for the holiday. Sitting home feeling empty and flat. Never felt so empty before in my life. He stole my faith when he violated me. Longing for the joy of the past.
You have every reason and right to feel the way you do, but I wish you didn’t. Maybe other survivors have words of wisdom on not letting him rob you of your present, your future – your faith. He is the faithless one. He is the damaged sick soul. You are strong. I know this because you are here on C4C sharing. That’s courage. Expecting “merry” would be unfair, but I wish you some peace in knowing that you aren’t alone.
Susan,
No words of wit here. Just know that you aren’t alone in this.
You aren’t alone…there is hope, despite what you may be feeling right now. My husband is living it…a life he thought would be better off ended than enduring more of the pain. There are survivors who have walked in your shoes and we are here to tell you…we love you. We believe you. You aren’t alone.
Be gentle with yourself.
Thank you for kind and reassuring words. Still consider myself Catholic and hanging onto a thread of faith or else wouldn’t be here. Trying to look at the emptiness as a potential space for something good to grow. So glad to have found this supportive space that gives me some glimmer of hope
Wasn’t asking for sympathy tonight, but just saying what was on my heart thinking that another survivor might identify. Instead have been flooded with words of compassion and love which is what we are on this planet to share. Thank you all for the joy you have given me in your kind words that I can feel come from your hearts
Susan I am not a survivor of clergy abuse but I have felt numb sad, heartbreak, loss of faith, loss of trust , betrayal, disgust etc. after reading the grand jury reports and listening first hand to our survivors stories. It is the amazing survivors, their families and other courageous people that restored my faith and trust and belief that good things exist. These good people and their good works reaching out to others in pain etc gave me back my hope in humanity and my faith……..I believe that just as Satan can work thru people so can Jesus Christ. Its not the teachings of the church nor the spiritual church that I believe if corrupt but the evil men that fail to live the teachings of the church both in words and actions. Like Fr. said above many of our courageous survivors are the real saints and the real followers of Christ in so many ways both seen and unseen. I have seen such strength in many of our survivors that are seeking healing and justice…..I don’t know how to describe the beauty of the souls and compassion for each other……no words can express the suffering of our survivors I know and I am so sorry for what you are going thru but the compassion I have seen for others from so many people is just so powerful……….
Susan,
YOUR NOT ALONE AND NEVER WILL BE.
Like firefighters and police officers consider each other to be brother and sister. So too is every victim of clergy abuse.
I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
Since the day I joined this blog I have witnessed the gift of strength shared. I recently was the receiver of such a gift.
Although the gift I received cannot be wrapped in fancy paper or can I place it underneath the tree, in my heart it was one of the best gifts I ever received.
I only hope in some of my words I may have given a gift to others.
I remember Charles(Chuck)Newman when he was the music director at Nativity BVM Elementary School in Port Richmond. He was just “Mr.Newman” back then(70’s). Most students knew there was something odd about him. He was very effeminate for one thing. It wasn’t shocking to me that he was accused of sexual abuse. The robbery was more shocking.