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Born and raised in Syracuse, New York and surrounding suburbs. Graduated with an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Civil Technology in 1971. Worked for almost twenty-six years for Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation before retiring in 1998. Worked in the Energy Management Division supervising the operation of the bulk power system and interconnections with other utilities throughout the Northeast. Husband of thirty-five years, father of four, grandfather of ten. Adult survivor of childhood sexual and ritual abuse by a Catholic priest. Advocate for all those sexually abused.
The details of Charles L. Bailey's life seem pretty normal. He was born in Syracuse, New York and raised in its nearby suburbs. He graduated with an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Civil Technology from SUNY Canton in 1971. He worked for almost twenty-seven years for Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation - Energy Management Division supervising the operation of the bulk power system and interconnections with other utilities throughout the Northeast. He was placed on long term disability retirement due to his degenerative spine in 1998. Charles has been happily married for thirty-eight years to his wife Sue. They have raised four children and lavish attention and love upon ten grandchildren. He enjoys using his engineering skills on do-it yourself projects. He has a wonderful sense of humor. His friends call him "Charley". He also has an unquenchable desire for justice and that's where Charles L. Bailey's story becomes extraordinary. You see Charles is an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse by a Catholic priest. The priest, Thomas Neary, was as terrifying a creature as you will find in any horror story, except for one thing -- he was not a fictitious character. A sadistic and thoroughly evil man, Neary employed the very sacraments of his church in his serial abuse of Charles. Some forty years later, Charles summoned the courage to face and disclose the horrors that so dramatically altered his life, starting when he was ten years old. He disclosed what happened to him to his wife and children, who responded with unconditional love and boundless support. When he testified of his abuse before a hearing at the New York State Senate, for the first of two times, a newspaper ignored rape shield laws and identified him in an article about the hearing. Charles responded by taking his story all the way public in a remarkable book about his abuse and recovery. It's called In the Shadow of the Cross and you need to read it. The book starts with the prayers for help young Charles said while the abuse was still taking place. By the time the story ends you realize that Charles became the answer to his own prayers. He became someone with a fierce sense of right and wrong and a tenacious desire to challenge and expose a church that covered up and then minimized the crimes that many of its clerics inflicted on countless children. He became a reasoned, unwavering voice for the cause of children, a voice that has broken the silence evil requires in an ancient conspiracy against children. Most importantly Charles became someone who has given his life to acts of support, guidance and kindness to his fellow abuse survivors. And now Thomas Neary, nearly a decade dead, is helpless to stop all the good the extraordinary Charles Bailey is doing. ACTIVISM & ADVOCACY Charles testified twice before New York State Senate Hearings on the effects of childhood sexual abuse and the need to revise or remove the statute of limitations for prosecutions of offenders. He appeared with New York State Assemblywoman Markey to support her bill on revision of the statute of limitations. Every Wednesday Charles mans a National Abuse Hotline and offers peer support to those damaged by sexual abuse along with referral recommendations. Every day he takes calls and emails from those who need peer counseling. AUTHOR of In the Shadow of the Cross BOOK SIGNINGS:
EVENTS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS Guest Speaker at Coalition of Concerned Catholics Meeting in Troy, NY to give a face to and personalize who a victim/survivor is and how their life is impacted. Guest Panel Speaker at Call to Action Annual Conference in Liverpool, NY to explain just what a child goes through and what needs to transpire to start your journey toward healing. Guest Speaker at several VOTF (Voice Of The Faithful - devout Catholic group) meetings in Syracuse, NY, Rochester, NY and Homer/Cortland, NY. Guest Speaker at National VOTF Conference in Providence, Rhode Island and book signing event. Also manned the National SNAP booth at conference. Attended Mount Sinai School of Medicine's Conference - Sexual Betrayal and Scandal in the Catholic Church - Psychoanalytic, Religious, and Social Perspectives. Invited to Annual Conference on the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse in San Antonio, Texas as a SNAP Leader and Author - held book signing and manned the National SNAP booth. SNAP Leader for Syracuse and Central New York and Raleigh, North Carolina. (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) Peer counseling and support. Attended National SNAP Conferences in Denver, Chicago, New Jersey, and Washington D.C. - Ran break out session for survivors in Denver, Author event and book signing in D.C. Author event and book signing at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan at the International Male Survivors Conference. Met as needed with the local Catholic Diocese Bishop, Director of Communications, Victims Assistance Coordinator, the local DA, and worked one on one with local FBI Agent. Continues to meet with dioceses on behalf of others. Appear in court in support of crime victims or, for those who cannot appear on their own behalf, to ensure their account is told. THE MEDIA Appeared on the Today Show's local broadcast segment as an author and survivor of sexual abuse Frequently responds to local media requests when it needs a reliable expert on the topic of clergy abuse Featured in the Legislative Gazette, Sunday editorial by the editor of local paper Interviewed by Randy Engel - author and publisher - Randy wrote in Canadian Challenge magazine about Charles and his journey Mikele Rauch - Therapist - interviewed Charles and featured his account in her book titled "Healing the Soul after Religious Abuse" -The Dark Heaven of Recovery. In the Shadow of the Cross in the New York Review of Books 08/16/07 issue In the Shadow of the Cross in some libraries in the state of Oklahoma after being reviewed by Lynn McIntosh - Director Regional Public Library System Charles attended the invitation-only HBO premiere of "Twist of Faith" in June of 2005 at HBO Studios in NYC.
Appeared on WRAL-TV show "On The Record" with David Crabtree - link to show Raleigh News & Observer feature article - link to article Charles attended the Oprah show as one of the 200 men invited, focusing on male survivors of sexual abuse, in October of 2010. Charles lectured a class at Wake Tech in NC in November of 2010 and 2011 for a Crisis Intervention class on child sexual abuse in the Human Services Department. Anne Costa interviewed Charles for her soon to be published book Forgiveness. Featured article by Heather Kipping (professor at Cazenovia College) in Table Hopping Magazine about Charles' book and lecture in May 2008. Radio Interviews - NPR Topical Currents Show with Joseph Cooper, Miami, Fl.; August Donnelly with Full Frontal Show, London, Ontario, Canada; John Counsell, Late Night Counsell Show; Talk Radio 570WSYR; numerous other in person and phone interviews. Contact Information: Charles L. Bailey, Jr author @ intheshadowofthecross . net email If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please contact me by using the "Contact Author" link above in the heading or click here. |
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