RETURN to WELCOME PAGE

RETURN to PHOTOS PAGE

Robert A. Brown


Timeline:

Ordained 1939

DIOCESE OF COLUMBUS

Columbus, Ohio
1939-1940

St Thomas assistant pastor, Columbus

St Augustine,  New Straitesville

St Vincent orphanage
St Leo
Good Shephard Convent
St John, Logan
St Joes,  Circleville
St Anthony, Bridgeport
St Stanislaus, .. 1941
Our Lady of Mercy,  Lowell

see The Times Recorder, p. 5.  Sunday, May 29, 1950 for history of assignments through 1950, in both the Columbus and Steubenville dioceses

DIOCESE OF STEUBENVILLE

1951  Woodsfield, OH  St. Sylvester's Church.  see The Times Recorder, Wednesday, June 26, 1951

1955  Woodsfield, OH  St. Sylvester's Church .  Priests listed:  Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph G. Mehler, Rev. Robert A. Brown

        School:  3  Franciscan Sisters of Charity,   98 students

1960  Same

1965  Same     Priest listed:  Very Rev. Msgr. Robert A. Brown

1968  Same

1972-3  Same    In residence, Rev. Donald K. Nuss

1974  Woodsfield, OH  Priests listed:  Msgr. Robert A. Brown, Rev. Lewis Gaetano                    

           Burkhart, OH  St. Joseph's Church Rev. Msgr. Robert A. Brown (non-resident)

1975  Woodsfield, OH  Priests listed:  Msgr. Robert A. Brown, Rev. Joseph Martinkosky

           Burkhart, OH  St. Joseph's Church  Rev. Msgr. Robert A. Brown (non-resident)

1976-8 Woodsfield and Burkhart, only priest for both places

1979-80, '82  Woodsfield, OH  Rev. Msgr. Robert A. Brown

1983  Woodsfield, OH  Rev. Msgr. Robert A. Brown; Rev. Ronald Griffith

1984  no directory available

1985-91  Retired--46644 Moore Ridge Rd., Rt. 1, Box 137A, Woodsfield, OH

Date of Death:  October 7, 1991

Directories not available for some years.  Appears that Brown was in Woodsfield from 1951 through 1991.

RETURN TO TOP

Related documents:

1.        Postings by BishopAccountability.org .   Enter the name of Brown

2.        Statement concerning Rev. Msgr. Robert A. Brown & Mr. Paul Ditto - 8/11/2006

Steubenville, OH: The Diocese of Steubenville has received a credible allegation pertaining to abuse of a minor child by Msgr. Robert Brown, former pastor of St. Sylvester Church in Woodsfield, Ohio, and by Mr. Paul Ditto, former volunteer at St. Sylvester Church in Woodsfield, Ohio. Both parties are deceased. The alleged abuse took place between the years of 1976 and 1978. Diocesan officials have already contacted and notified the local civil authorities of this fact.

If anyone has been abused by these persons or anyone else, please contact Msgr. Kurt Kemo, Vicar General of the Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio at (740) 282-3631.

Bishop R. Daniel Conlon of the Diocese asks for prayers for those who are victims of child abuse and for those who are perpetrators of child abuse, particularly in the Catholic Church. The Bishop also indicated that when allegations are made concerning child abuse they are dealt with in a straight-forward and compassionate manner, and that he is committed to full compliance with state law and church policy in regard to this matter.

August 11, 2006
http://home.catholicweb.com/diosteub/index.cfm/NewsItem?id=176116

RETURN TO TOP

3.        Church Officials Urge Potential Abuse Victims to Come Forward

By Diana DeCola,  The Marietta Times [Ohio], August 17, 2006

http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new88_817200681232.asp

Area Catholic officials are urging parishioners to come forward with information about any other potential abuses by a former Lowell pastor and a church volunteer at St. Sylvester Church in Woodsfield.

On Friday, the Diocese of Steubenville released information pertaining to the abuse of a minor child at St. Sylvester Church by Monsignor Robert Brown, former pastor of St. Sylvester Church in Woodsfield, and Paul Ditto, former volunteer at St. Sylvester Church. Brown had also served at Our Lady of Mercy in Lowell.

Officials at Our Lady of Mercy in Lowell declined to comment on the matter, but Father David Gaydosik, of St. Sylvester Church, said the parish is opening its arms to anyone else who may have experienced similar abuse or who may just be suffering from the shock of the news.

"We're dealing with it," Gaydosik said. "We've invited anyone else who's had this experience to come forward."

The diocese's release said they had credible allegations that Brown and Ditto abused a minor child between 1976 and 1978. Both men are now deceased.

Monsignor Gerald Calovini, spokesman for the diocese. said he didn't know if there was any connection between the activities of the two men, but said this is the first time an allegation has been made against them.

Brown had been a member of the diocese since its inception in 1944, Calovini said.

Brown also served at St. Anthony's in Bridgeport, St. Stanislaus in Maynard and at Our Lady of Mercy in Lowell. Brown is believed to have served at St. Sylvester Church from 1951 to 1991.

Monsignor Kurt Kemo, vicar general of the Diocese of Steubenville, is also encouraging anyone who has suffered abuse to come forward.

Calovini said the diocese already has notified local authorities, a standard procedure and a requirement of Ohio Revised Code.

The Woodsfield Police Department, as of Wednesday, said it did not receive a report from the diocese.

"I'm aware of this allegation but I do not have a report on file," said Woodsfield Police Chief Chuck Hamilton.

The Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney's office gave the same response, saying they received only a letter from the diocese with no detailed information about the case.

Wednesday, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests held a news conference in front of St. Sylvester Church urging Steubenville Bishop, R. Daniel Conlon, to visit the church and beg other potential victims to come forward.

They are also requesting the diocese release more information regarding the cases.

"He (Bishop Conlon) has not put on the Web site the names of past priests who have abused other people," said Marietta resident Helen Schoeppner, a member of SNAP. "We're hoping that will come about because some of the priests who've (been) abusers are still living."

In February 2004, a report issued by the Diocese of Steubenville found that there have been 17 sexual abuse claims in the diocese since 1950. A total of 13 priests have been accused and 11 of those accusations were substantiated.

ddecola@mariettatimes.com
 
RETURN TO TOP

4.        Survivor Network Wants Church Apology

By Shelby Zarotney, WTOV NEWS9, August 16, 2006

http://www.wtov9.com/news/9694388/detail.html

A local advocacy group says the most appropriate action to take after the Steubenville Diocese confirms credible information in connection with a child abuse case at St. Sylvester's Catholic Church in Monroe County, would be for an apology in-person.

The organization, SNAP, which stands for The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, hand-delivered a multi-page letter to the Diocese of Steubenville, addressed to Bishop R. Daniel Conlon.

In the letter, Snap requests that Bishop Conlon personally go to the parishes where the credible accusations came from and apologize on behalf of the Catholic Church and make a public offer of assistance to anyone who witnessed, suspected or experienced abuse from the clergy.

This is in reponse to alleged abuse that took place in the late 70's.

The diocese named pastor Robert Brown and church volunteer Paul Ditto in their report.

According to local SNAP leader for the Diocese of Steubenville, Judy Jones says,

"SNAP is here for healing, education and preventing child abuse." And says, "I delivered (the letter) to Msgr. Calovini and I asked him to sign that he received the letter, he refused and would not sign it."

Monsignor Gerald Calovini of the Steubenville Diocese did offer this statement on behalf of the Diocese...

"Representatives of SNAP presented letters from victims to be delivered to the Bishop and they were.

Bishop Conlon continues to seek prayers for those who have been abused and those who have been the perpetrators of abuse, and he encourages anyone to contact Msgr. Kurt Kemo at the Diocese of Steubenville.

Judy Jones encourages anyone who has been victimized by the clergy to contact SNAP for help at 614-645-5915.

RETURN TO TOP

RETURN to WELCOME PAGE

RETURN to PHOTOS PAGE