Accused friar commits suicide in Pennsylvania

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:00 pm by Deacon Greg Kandra

Accused friar commits suicide in Pennsylvania 2016-09-30T17:00:48-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Details:

Franciscan friar Stephen Baker, who faced brewing litigation for alleged abuse, died Saturday at St. Bernardine Monastery in Hollidaysburg. His death was ruled a suicide by Blair County Coroner Patricia Ross.

Blair Township Police Chief Roger White said the cause of death was a self-inflicted knife wound. He said the investigation into Baker’s death was closed.

An autopsy was conducted Saturday afternoon at Nason Hospital in Roaring Spring.

Baker was pronounced dead at the monastery by Blair County Deputy Coroner Brian Reidy.

At 7:35 a.m. today, the Blair Township Police Department, Hollidaysburg EMS and the Pennsylvania State Police were dispatched to the monastery located at 768 Monastery Road, Hollidaysburg.

Baker was discovered in his room by another resident of St. Bernardine’s, who then made the initial call for assistance to emergency services.

St. Bernardine Minister Provincial Rev. Patrick Quinn said an investigation is continuing.

“The matter is under investigation by the authorities,” Quinn said in a statement. “We will not be able to make further comment until the investigation is concluded. We express our regret and prayers to his family, and especially to all who have been impacted by this tragic situation.”

Six police cars were at the scene by 9 a.m. An hour later, the Hollidaysburg Forensics Unit arrived followed a short time later by a medical van that came to pick the body.

Baker was in his 60s.

Baker’s life unraveled quickly after it was reported last week by the Warren (Ohio) Tribune Chronicle that a settlement was reached with 11 men who claim they were molested by Baker while he coached baseball at John F. Kennedy High School in Warren, Ohio, from 1986 to 1990.

The Youngstown, Ohio, diocese told the Tribune Chronicle that the settlements were in the “high five figures” for each of the 11 men. The diocese is paying 30 percent of the settlements, while the Franciscan order is paying 70 percent, Bishop George V. Murry said.

When that news broke, it was learned that Baker had been living at St. Bernardine since 2012. He previously lived there from 2001-03.

Baker served as a religion teacher and athletic trainer at Bishop McCort in Johnstown from 1990 to 2000. He was removed from public ministry because the St. Bernardine Monastary was made aware of an allegation involving a man who was allegedly abused by Baker in the 1980s.

Despite that, the Mirror reported Saturday that Baker continued to maintain a presence in the area, particularly involving Bishop McCort athletics.

Read more.

Ripped from the headlines

Sex abuse crisis

Pennsylvania

Sex abuse crisis

Previous Post

January 28, 2013

National Catholic Reporter responds to Bishop Finn: "NCR is proud to call itself a Catholic publication"

Next Post

January 28, 2013 Making all things new: how a Manhattan church was saved

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism education Education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution Politics politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized Vatican VATICAN vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the name "Samuel" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Chosen one God has heard God is my judge The Lord saves

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »