Former Catholic priest Fr. Ryan, abused by his mentor and family priest Father Lott,  finds  haven of hope through an Episcopal church in Albany, New York.
Victim-survivors want most of all to be listened to, believed and to hear ‘I’m sorry’ so says Ms Buros with The Independent Reconciliation and Compensation program. These men now 50 and 60 years old are still crying when they speak of their abuses says Ms Burros
Twenty years a Catholic priest, Steven Ryan-Vutto left the priesthood questioning his vocation because of long term sexual abuse he had experienced by his mentor and family priest.
He had to speak out as ‘it is something I had to do from the deepest core of my being.’  “I truly believe that although it’s going to sully the name of someone a lot of people look up to, it’s truthful… the truth will set you free.’
Abused from the age of 14 by his parish priest — acts of fondling and sodomy — Steven Ryan-Vuotto joined the priesthood. Known as Father Ryan for 20 years, he recently spoke out against his abuser,
Rev. Robert V. Lott  who died in 2002 at the age of 63. In the early 1990’s Steven Ryan-Vuotto confronted Rev. Lott as part of his therapy.
____
Cameron Jackson
The above is based on an article in the New York Times, Monday, Oct. 30, 2017