Posted on 01/04/2011 1:06:16 PM PST by ADSUM
Letter from Archbishop Jerome Listecki, Milwaukee
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
May the peace of Christmas and all the blessings of the New Year be with you!
I want to share with you the following information which departs from the format of my normal, weekly, Love One Another e-mail.
Today is the Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and my one year anniversary of installation as Archbishop of Milwaukee. Little did I imagine that one year later I would be writing to you with the following news about the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
After consultation with archdiocesan advisors and after my own prayerful consideration, this morning I directed attorneys for the archdiocese to file a petition for a Chapter 11 reorganization of its financial affairs under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
In my installation homily on January 4, 2010, I spoke of the devastation of sin and its effect on us personally and as a community. We see the result of that sin today. This action is occurring because priest-perpetrators sexually abused minors, going against everything the Church and the priesthood represents.
As a result, there are financial claims pending against the archdiocese that exceed our means. Our recent failure to reach a mediated resolution with victims/survivors involved in lawsuits against the archdiocese, along with the November court decision that insurance companies are not bound to contribute to any financial settlement, made it clear that reorganization is the best way to fairly and equitably fulfill our obligations.
In taking this action, we have two goals. First, we want to do as much as we can, as fairly as we can, to compensate victims/survivors with unresolved claims – both those with claims pending and those who will come forward because of this proceeding. Second, we want to carry on the essential ministries of the archdiocese so we can continue to meet the needs of our parishes, parishioners and others who rely upon the Church for assistance.
A Chapter 11 reorganization is the best way to achieve these goals. It enables the archdiocese to use available funds to compensate all victims/survivors with unresolved claims in a single process overseen by a court, ensuring that all are treated equitably. In addition, by serving as a final call for legal claims against the archdiocese, the proceeding will allow the Church to move forward on stable financial ground, focused on its Gospel mission.
As I have said before, we will continue our outreach to victims/survivors as an ongoing ministry of the Church. The archdiocese is committed to making sure that, to the best of our ability, nothing like this can ever happen again. We will continue the policies and practices we have implemented to keep children safe.
As a Church, we have worked for more than two decades to meet the needs of victims/survivors without taking this drastic action. Since the late 1980s, we have directed increasing resources toward providing financial, psychological, pastoral and spiritual support to victims/survivors. Over the past 20 years, we have spent more than $29 million to cover costs associated with this tragedy. Since 2002, we have sold property, liquidated savings and investments, eliminated ministries and services, cut archdiocesan staff by nearly 40 percent, and put all available real estate on the market in order to free up resources. As a result, we have succeeded in reaching mediated settlements with more than 190 individuals. But in the end, our available resources fell short.
This bankruptcy proceeding applies only to the archdiocese itself. Parishes, schools or other Catholic entities that are separately incorporated under state law are not affected by this filing.
Many of you may feel disheartened and frustrated by this development. I have experienced the same emotions. For those who may feel anger and resentment that we have come to this moment, STOP. We are here because of one reason: priests sexually abused minors. For that, I feel deeply ashamed. As your bishop, I apologize to victims/survivors for the harm, pain and suffering they are experiencing.
I also want to apologize to all the faithful priests, religious and laity whose good works may have been tarnished by this ongoing tragedy. This can be a difficult time to be a Catholic.
But with humble hearts you persist. You come to Mass. You support your parishes and schools. You contribute at record levels to support the mission of the Church. You do countless good works through Catholic organizations. With you, the Church will continue to serve hundreds of thousands of people, making major contributions to our communities, even as we proceed with this reorganization. You carry on because you understand that while the human dimension of the Church mirrors all of humanity’s failings, the Holy Spirit guiding her ultimately prevails.
Your faith is the rock on which we will build a renewed Church in southeastern Wisconsin. This is what gives me hope and confidence as we enter into this process. Just as the pain and suffering of those who have been harmed is beyond imagining, our financial reorganization will be painful, as it should be. This process will lay the groundwork for a new beginning. Like a damaged tree that is pruned drastically, I firmly believe our archdiocese will ultimately grow back, healthier and stronger, as long as our own faith remains rooted in Jesus Christ.
Let me acknowledge there will be many more questions to answer as we move through this legal process. Our Web site – www.archmil.org -- will serve as a repository for information. There are many questions whose answers will only come as the bankruptcy process unfolds. I promise to share information as it becomes available in an open, candid and straightforward way.
One thing I do know is that God is with us always, just as He is with each victim/survivor, each of their loved ones, and all the faithful who make up the Church. Let us, then, place our trust in God, who is our strength and our hope; and who is with us always.
With assurance of prayers and with faith in Jesus Christ who makes all things new, I am,
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Jerome E. Listecki Archbishop of Milwaukee
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Archdiocese of Milwaukee | Catholic Charities | John Paul II Center | Living Our Faith
Archbishop Listecki said it very well!
In my installation homily on January 4, 2010, I spoke of the devastation of sin and its effect on us personally and as a community. We see the result of that sin today. This action is occurring because priest-perpetrators sexually abused minors, going against everything the Church and the priesthood represents.
A fitting finale to your train wreck episcopate; bankruptcy.
And, in view of this ongoing horror that was caused by active homosexuals buggering the choir boys, we have repealed DADT. Now the military’s in the cross hairs, with a disastrous drop in voluntary enlistments being almost sure to follow.
Well said, Bishop Listecki! You were handed this mess by your predecessor, and have worked hard to deal with HIS sinful actions. May God continue to Bless your efforts.
In my installation homily on January 4, 2010, I spoke of the devastation of sin and its effect on us personally and as a community. We see the result of that sin today. This action is occurring because priest-perpetrators sexually abused minors, going against everything the Church and the priesthood represents.
As a result, there are financial claims pending against the archdiocese that exceed our means. Our recent failure to reach a mediated resolution with victims/survivors involved in lawsuits against the archdiocese, along with the November court decision that insurance companies are not bound to contribute to any financial settlement, made it clear that reorganization is the best way to fairly and equitably fulfill our obligations....
....We are here because of one reason: priests sexually abused minors.
"Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny".
-- Matthew 5:25-26When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
-- Proverbs 16:7
Milwaukee was the diocese long suffering the notorious liberal homosexual bishop Rembert Weakland.
“Milwaukee was the diocese long suffering the notorious liberal homosexual bishop Rembert Weakland.”
Well, then I guess they have this coming to them. ‘Them’ being the church leaders who put Weakland into that post.
I feel sorry for the decent people who are being victimized a second time by this ongoing tragedy but I hope that someone has the sense to clean house and remove the leaders who put Weakland into a place where he could do the most harm.
...the wages of sin...
Excellent point. How did the Catholic Church allow him to become an Archbishop in the first place? On a much earlier thread, I was told that Weakland was in "denial of key points of Catholic teaching." How then did he make it through the bishop selection process? Who was so impressed as to later promote him to archbishop? Who was his overseer? Who gives such an ungodly man a place of authority and trust in a church, and why?
"...the scandal was never really about the 4% abusers in their ranks. The real scandal was that 66% of bishops covered for the 4%, negatively affecting 95% of the dioceses in the United States - actions which cost the Catholic Church over three billion dollars paid in settlements and awards to the victims."
-- Alex Murphy, September 29, 2009
Pat Buchanan made that very samre observation in his column last week.
He said: “DADT—ask the Catholic Church how that worked out for them.”
I think Bishop Weakland’s pension should be reduced in recognition and consideration of his mismanagement, misleadership, and mishandling of the Diocese once committed to his care - as well as due to the poor example he set as a shepherd, given what more we know of him now. I believe he recently published a book...he should surrender the royalties, etc., to the diocese.
Alex, that quote of yours:
“...the scandal was never really about the 4% abusers in their ranks. The real scandal was that 66% of bishops covered for the 4%, negatively affecting 95% of the dioceses in the United States - actions which cost the Catholic Church over three billion dollars paid in settlements and awards to the victims.”
— Alex Murphy, September 29, 2009
...is why I don’t put my trust in men or churches.
Bishop Weakland, having already demonstrated what kind of a man he is, is unlikely to man up and do the right thing now.
The church has already demonstrated that it will not pursue pedophile-protector senior leadership.
Just ask Law and Mahony...
I think as part of this they also need to remove the names of those they have “honored” on diocese buildings that are the direct causes of this bankruptcy. In particular Weakland from all buildings and whatever else they stuck his name on.
You do not honor the people that are directly responsible for this with buildings and whatnot with their names on them. That is honoring enablers. And in Weakland’s case a perpetrator.
It’s pyschological term semantics, I can’t stand the people who do what you say.
If you are attracted to members of the same sex, no matter what age, it’s a homosexual attraction.
If they are young kids it’s also pedophilia, it’s sexual attraction to a child.
What gender you’re attracted to is a distinction, and what age you are attracted to is a separate distinction.
Agreed FRiend but I’ve had countless flame wars with folks right here on FR who tell me there are no pedophiles in the Catholic church.
The John Jay report, incomplete as it is, identified the victims as:
22% were younger than age 10
51% were between the ages of 11 and 14
27% were between the ages to 15 to 17 years
It would appear that the perpetrators are...pedophiles.
Perhaps it would be helpful to understand what the Church has done:
What the Church has Done
What the Archdiocese of Milwaukee has done to reach resolution with victims/survivors of clergy sexual abuse of minors
January 2011
Since 2002
Funded therapy and related assistance
Sold property not designated for educational, pastoral or charitable work to fund Pastoral Mediation Initiative (approximately $4 million)
Reached resolution through several pastoral mediations
Commissioned an outside consultant to design and administer an Independent Mediation System
Settled lawsuits in State of California for $16.65 million, of which the Archdiocese of Milwaukee paid $8.25 million
Provided financial component for resolution with approximately 190 individuals through independent mediation system
Mortgaged the Archbishop Cousins Catholic Center for $4.65 million
Sold additional property not currently in use for ministry
Participated in a mediation to resolve pending lawsuits in summer 2009
Liquidated non-restricted investments & savings
Reduced staff by 38 percent since 2002
Eliminated programs, initiatives and services to reduce operating budget
Initiated mediation to resolve pending lawsuits in October 2010
http://www.archmil.org/reorg/Church-has-done.htm
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