VATICAN ACCEPTS ARCHBISHOP WEAKLAND'S RESIGNATION

EWTNews Brief ^ | 24-May-2002 | CWNews.com

[Siobhan]

VATICAN, May 24, 02 (CWNews.com) -- The Vatican has accepted the resignation of Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland, one day after it was revealed that the archbishop had paid $450,000 to settle a sex-abuse lawsuit.

Archbishop Weakland, who had already submitted his resignation, as required, upon reaching the age of 75, yesterday disclosed that he had asked the Vatican to "accelerate" the acceptance of that resignation in light of the new revelations.

In a terse announcement, the Vatican today announced that Pope John Paul II had "accepted the resignation... presented by Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, O.S.B., upon having reached the age limit." The Vatican statement made no reference to this week's news stories.

Archbishop Weakland has denied that he sexually abused the man, Paul Marcoux. He has refused to discuss any further details about the case. But Marcoux made public a long letter that he had received from the archbishop-- and which analysts confirm is in the archbishop's handwriting-- alluding to an intimate relationship.

Upon reaching the age of 75 on April 2, Archbishop Weakland had submitted his resignation to Rome, as required by the Code of Canon Law. However he later wrote, in a column published by the Milwaukee archdiocesan newspaper, that he did not expect the Vatican to move quickly in accepting the resignation. Weakland said that the Vatican had put all resignations by US bishops "on hold" in light of the current scandal.

[Siobhan]

Such an immediate acceptance of a resignation is almost unheard of in the Catholic Church, and usually only happens when the Vatican has reason to believe that the prelate involved is guilty as sin.

[Siobhan]

FYI BUMP

[Siobhan]

Indexing

[katnip]

I know I'm naive but, where did this guy get $450,000 from that no one noticed was gone?

[yendu bwam]

I'm not sure who is more resigned, the laity or Weakland.

[Siobhan]

You are not naive. If I understand correctly, he took it out of Archdiocesan funds and paid it back through honoraria and speaking fees during his tenure as Archbishop. Verily, it stinketh.

[Timesink]

Remember that Weakland was considered the single most liberal archbishop in the United States. Coincidence?

[Siobhan]

This is also the time to remember very clearly that Archbishop Weakland called abused youth and their parents "Squealers" for reporting priestly sexual abuse as well as spiritual malpractice, of which Archbishop Weakland is guilty in the highest degree.

[Siobhan]

No coincidence. Rot in the brain leads to rot in behavior. He fancied himself a modern day anti-Pope. I pray for people who trusted him who are now devastated.

[ZGuy]

While this is being thrown in together on the news reports with the other pedophilia/sexual abuse cases, I think it is important to note that in this case the incident occured while Weakland was in his 50's and Marcoux was in his 30's. The reference to this as an "intimate relationship" seems to be more accurate than the portrayal of this as a sexual abuse case.

[B Knotts]

I just found out that one of my uncles, a lifetime Catholic, has left the Church, and I'm assuming its over the recent scandal.

The damage these bishops have done is incalculable, both corporately and spiritually.

[WIMom]

Weakland and the Pope had disputes over the renovation of the Cathedral in Milwaukee. The vatican wrote a letter to him last year, telling him to halt renovations. Weakland ignored the order. No wonder the resignation was pushed through so quickly. Weakland has been a problem forever. Besides being a homosexual and this latest scandal, he is an egotistical maniac. Good riddance. He should have been booted out long ago.

[Congressman Billybob]

One down, two to go. Now if Jesse Jackson would resign from his "charitable" positions, and Bill Clinton would resign from further activity as former President, we'd be getting somewhere. After all O.J. Jackson and O.J. Clinton have the same zipper problem as O.J. Weakland.

Anyone who lacks the self-control to manage his own zipper, lacks the self-control to be in charge of hundreds of people and millions of dollars.

Was it "just sex" in the case of Weakland?

Congressman Billybob

Click here to fight Campaign Finance "Reform" - CFR

Click here for latest: "More Mush from the Wimp."

[Registered]

Archbishop Rembert Weakland speaks with Mary McLees of Madison, Wisconsin, as she reveals being the victim of a sexual assault by a Catholic priest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin 44 years ago, during a listening session at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, May 16, 2002. Pope John Paul has accepted the resignation of Weakland, the Vatican said in a statement on Friday. Weakland, a leading liberal in the church, said on Thursday he had come to a financial settlement with a man who said the prelate had paid him almost half a million dollars to keep quiet about an attempted sexual assault. Weakland has been the leader of the Milwaukee Archdiocese since 1977. REUTERS/Allen Fredrickson

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

More information: archbishop resignation

[Siobhan]

It is definitely sexual abuse because of the inequity of the power relationship. Archbishop Weakland was holding all the cards and abused his status and office to obtain sex from Marcoux. There is no such thing as consenting sodomy when an Archbishop is involved and the object of his desire is a student. He is abusing his position and abusing this man to gain that for which he hungers and lusts.

[Daus]

I know I'm naive but, where did this guy get $450,000 from that no one noticed was gone?

The 'silence fund' for these matters has been long rumored in Milwaukee. I know a number of people who ceased contributing years ago because of it. They just didn't know it was for Weakland himself.

[Jim Noble]

>>I just found out that one of my uncles, a lifetime Catholic, has left the Church, and I'm assuming its over the recent scandal. The damage these bishops have done is incalculable<<

I have a large RC family, though I'm not one myself.

It seems to me that Catholic's faith in Christ is tied up with their faith in the Church. Take away one, you take away the other.

Horrible.

[ZGuy]

Good input. I was only trying to point out that the media (around here at least) has been portraying this as a case of sexual abuse between a priest and a child, which in this case it clearly was not.

[yendu bwam]

This is also the time to remember very clearly that Archbishop Weakland called abused youth and their parents "Squealers" for reporting priestly sexual abuse as well as spiritual malpractice, of which Archbishop Weakland is guilty in the highest degree.

I absolutely agree. The man has brought more shame on the Church.