One pledge is withdrawn and pledged amount decreases $3,635.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
In win for Milwaukee Archdiocese, judge shields cemetery funds from creditors
federal judge has ruled against forcing the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to tap its cemetery funds to pay sex abuse claims in its bankruptcy.
In issuing the ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Rudolph T. Randa said including the funds would violate free exercise of religion under the First Amendment and a 1993 law aimed at protecting religious freedom. Randa cited the Catholic belief in the resurrection, which teaches that the body ultimately reunites with the soul, and the role of Catholic cemeteries in the exercise of that belief under canon law.
"The sacred nature of Catholic cemeteries — and compliance with the church's historical and religious traditions and mandates requiring their perpetual care — are understood as a fundamental exercise of this core belief," said Randa in overturning an earlier decision by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Susan V. Kelley.
Chicago Cardinal George: no red carpet for Schüller | National Catholic Reporter
In fact, the ACP had not endorsed Schüller. The chair, Fr. Dennis Ziomek (acting on his own initiative), had merely notified those on his email list of the Austrian priest's willingness to talk. Meanwhile, the pastor of the parish where the conversation was to take place had already canceled the event at his church immediately upon learning that the auxiliary bishop of his vicariate was urgently trying to contact him. Fr. Dennis O'Neill, the pastor, then arranged for the meeting to take place instead at a nearby Presbyterian church.
So the event did take place, but because details were publicized so late, only seven priests attended: five from the Chicago archdiocese, two from Milwaukee
Friday, July 26, 2013
Editorial: The archbishop should explain actions in case against accused priest : Stltoday
The parents allege in their suit that the archbishop tried to tamper with evidence by asking them to return a $20,000 check that Father Jiang left them. The lawsuit alleges that the priest explained to the girl’s mother in a text message he left the check “because of his ‘stupidity.’ ”
Instead, the parents turned the check over to law enforcement officials, as they should have.
A statement on the archdiocese website regarding the parents’ lawsuit says: “The Archdiocese has been made aware of a John and Jane Doe lawsuit recently filed in Lincoln County against the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Archbishop Carlson asserting errors in the supervision of a diocesan priest. These new allegations against the archdiocese and the archbishop are false and will be denied in an answer to the lawsuit filed in court.”
Dolan: Francis is, and isn't, what we expected | National Catholic Reporter
On the other hand, Dolan said, the cardinals also thought they were electing a dynamic manager, and so far the pace of change has been slower than some expected.
Perhaps, Dolan said, Francis has built such a reservoir of goodwill that it may be easier to push through change down the line.
Dolan spoke Wednesday in an interview with NCR on the margins of World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, where he's leading a delegation of roughly 50 pilgrims from New York and delivering catechetical sessions to English-speakers from around the world.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Listen for this Word: 'Synodality' | America Magazine
From the beginning Pope Francis has indicated his desire for greater representation in the running of the church. The most concrete step he has taken in that direction was the appointment of a council of cardinals from each of the continents to advise him on church renewal and the reform of the Roman curia. He has also indicated the council may be replaced in the years ahead by a council elected by the Synod.
Church Street issue, approved after Monday hearing | Belvidere Daily Republican
Written by Troy A. Bruzewski, Editor
According to Chamberlain, the church wants a place for drivers to pullover, allowing passengers to exit the vehicle and enter the church. He said the items were put on the agenda, because the church’s request was initially incomplete and the city gave notice to residents after all requirements were complete.
One resident spoke in opposition to the ordinance and one alderman voted against it, but Chamberlain said those were the two lone attendees not in favor.
Monday, July 22, 2013
What the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese documents reveal
By Karen Herzog of the Journal Sentinel
Church officials
Each archbishop had his own way of addressing accused priests.
Archbishop William Cousins wrote terse, formal letters to inform priests they were being transferred, which occurred frequently and quietly during his tenure from 1959 to 1977. Cousins did not document much, reflecting a time when sex abuse accusations against priests were not openly discussed.
Weakland, archbishop from 1977 to 2002, consistently expressed concern for the priests' well-being and told them he was doing what was best for them and the church. He also exchanged letters with victims, acknowledging the bad effects of what had happened and encouraging them to forgive because "forgiveness brings spiritual growth."
Weakland resigned in 2002 amid revelations that he had used church money to pay a $450,000 settlement to a man with whom he had had a sexual relationship years earlier.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan, whose tenure from 2002 to 2007 coincided with a change in direction by the Vatican in dealing with sex abuse cases, wrote stern letters to priests about their actions, while expressing concern for their well-being. In his letters to victims, Dolan apologized for their pain and offered them counseling services.
This is just a small segment of what Ms. Herzog’s findings.Cling on the following and read the article in its entirety: What the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese documents reveal
Ex-priest accused of abuse files $450,000 bankruptcy claim against Milwaukee archdiocese | Fox News
The claim filed by Marvin Knighton stands out because he was acquitted by a jury. But the church still removed him from the priesthood, saying two of three allegations against him had merit.
Knighton is seeking back pay of $450,000.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Elderly Jesuit explains why he resigned from priesthood. Association of Catholic Priests
Fr Bert Thelen’s Letter of Resignation, June 2013
TO : Family, Relatives, and Friends, Colleagues and Partners in Ministry, CLC Members, Ignatian Associates, Project Mankind, Parishioners of St. John’s, St Benedict the Moor, Sacred Heart, Jesuit Classmates and Companions
FROM: Bert Thelen, S.J., June, 2013Dearly Beloved,
May the Grace of Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Peace of the Holy Spirit be with you! I am writing to tell you about what may be the most important decision of my life since entering the Jesuits. With God’s help, at the behest of my religious superiors and the patient support and wise encouragement of my CLC group and closest friends, I have decided to leave ordained Jesuit ministry and return to the lay state, the priesthood of the faithful bestowed on me by my Baptism nearly 80 years ago. I do this with confidence and humility, clarity and wonder, gratitude and hope, joy and sorrow. No bitterness, no recrimination, no guilt, no regrets.
It has been a wonderful journey, a surprising adventure, an exploration into the God Who dwells mysteriously in all of our hearts. I will always be deeply grateful to the Society of Jesus for the formation, education, companionship, and ministry it has provided, and to my family for their constant support. I can never thank God enough for the loving and loyal presence in my life of each and every one of you.
Why am I doing this? How did I reach this decision? I will try to tell you now. That is the purpose of this letter. For about 15 years now, as many of you have noticed, I have had a “Lover’s Quarrel” with the Catholic Church. I am a cradle Catholic and grew up as Catholic as anyone can, with Priests and even Bishops in our household, and 17 years of Catholic education at St. Monica’s Grade School, Milwaukee Messmer High School, and Marquette University. I took First Vows at Oshkosh in the Society of Jesus at age 25 and was ordained at Gesu Church to the priesthood ten years later in 1968. I have served the Church as a Jesuit priest in Milwaukee, Omaha, and Pine Ridge for 45 years, including 18 years on the Province Staff culminating in my being the Wisconsin Provincial for six years and attending the 34th General Congregation in Rome.
My last 14 years at Creighton and St. John’s have been the best years of my life. I have truly enjoyed and flourished serving as pastor of St. John’s. I cannot even put into words how graced and loved and supported I have been by the parishioners, parish staff, campus ministry, Ignatian Associates, and CLC members! It is you who have freed, inspired, and encouraged me to the New Life to which I am now saying a strong and joyful “Yes.” You have done this by challenging me to be my best self as a disciple of Jesus, to proclaim boldly His Gospel of Love, and to widen the horizons of my heart to embrace the One New World we are called to serve in partnership with each other and our Triune God. It is the Risen Christ Who beckons me now toward a more universal connection with the Cosmos, the infinitely large eco-system we are all part of, the abundance and vastness of what Jesus called “the Reign of God.”
Why does this “YES” to embrace the call of our cosmic inter-connectedness mean saying “NO” to ordained ministry? My answer is simple but true. All mystical traditions, as well as modern science, teach us that we humans cannot be fully ourselves without being in communion with all that exists. Lasting justice for Earth and all her inhabitants is only possible within this sacred communion of being. We need conversion – conversion from the prevailing consciousness that views reality in terms of separateness, dualism, and even hierarchy, to a new awareness of ourselves as inter-dependent partners , sharing in one Earth-Human community. In plainer words, we need to end the world view that structures reality into higher and lower, superior and inferior, dominant and subordinate, which puts God over Humanity, humans over the rest of the world, men over women, the ordained over the laity. As Jesus commanded so succinctly, “Don’t Lord it over anyone … serve one another in love.” As an institution, the Church is not even close to that idea; its leadership works through domination, control, and punishment. So, following my call to serve this One World requires me to stop benefiting from the privilege, security, and prestige ordination has given me. I am doing this primarily out of the necessity and consequence of my new call, but, secondarily, as a protest against the social injustices and sinful exclusions perpetrated by a patriarchal church that refuses to consider ordination for women and marriage for same- sex couples.
I have become convinced that the Catholic Church will never give up its clerical privilege until and unless we priests (and bishops) willingly step down from our pedestals. Doing this would also put me in solidarity with my friend, Roy Bourgeois, my fellow Jesuit, Fr. Bill Brennan, the late Bernard Cooke, and many other men who have been “de-frocked” by the reigning hierarchy. It will also support the religious and lay women, former Catholics, and gay and lesbian couples marginalized by our church. I want to stand with and for them. I am, if you will, choosing to de-frock myself in order to serve God more faithfully, truly, and universally.
But why leave the Jesuits? Make no mistake about it: the Society of Jesus shares in and benefits from this patriarchal and clerical way of proceeding. We still regard ourselves as the shepherds and those to whom and with whom we minister as sheep. I discovered this painfully when the Society of Jesus decided against having Associate members. We are not prepared for co-membership or even, it seems at times, for collaboration, though we pay lip service to it. “Father knows best” remains the hallmark of our way of proceeding. I can no longer, in conscience, do that. But I still honor and love my fellow Jesuits who work from that model of power over. It is still where we all are as a company, a Society, a community of vowed religious in the Roman Catholic church. Leaving behind that companionship is not easy for me, but it is the right thing for me to do at this time in my life. When I went through a formal discernment process with my CLC group, one member whose brilliance and integrity I have always admired and whose love and loyalty to the Jesuits is beyond question, said of my decision, “You cannot NOT do this!” He had recognized God’s call in me.
A few other considerations may help clarify my path. The Church is in transition – actually in exile. In the Biblical tradition, the Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian captivities led to great religious reforms and the creation of renewed covenants. Think of Moses, Jeremiah, and Isaiah. I think a similar reform is happening in our Catholic faith (as well as other traditions). We have come through far-reaching, earth-shaking evolutionary changes, and a new (Universal) Church as well as a new (One) World is emerging. My decision is a baby step in that Great Emergence, a step God is asking me to take.
Consider this. Being a Lay Catholic has sometimes been caricatured as “Pray, pay, and obey.” Of course, that is a caricature, an exaggeration, a jibe. But it does point to a real problem. Recently, the hierarchical church mandated the so-called revision of the Roman Missal without consulting the People of God. It was both a foolish and a self-serving effort to increase the authority of Ordained men, damaging and even in some ways taking away the “Pray” part of “Pray, pay, and obey.” No wonder more and more Catholics are worshipping elsewhere, and some enlightened priests feel compromised in their roles. I, for one, feel that this so-called renewal , though licit, is not valid. It is not pleasing to God, and I feel compromised in trying to do it.
Now, consider this. All of this liturgical, ecclesial, and religious change is located in and strongly influenced by what both science and spirituality have revealed as happening to our world, our planet, our universe. The very earth we are rooted and grounded in, as well as the air we breathe and the water we drink, are being damaged and destroyed even beyond (some say) our capacity to survive. And, as Fr. John Surette, S.J., has so wisely observed, “Injustice for the human and destruction of Earth’s ecosystem are not two separate injustices. They are one.” Biocide is even more devastating than genocide, because it also kills future inhabitants of our precious Earth.
It is time. It is time to abandon our refusal to see that our very environment is central to the survival and well being of ALL earthlings. It is time for the Church to turn her attention from saving face to saving the earth, from saving souls to saving the planet. It is time to focus on the sacred bond that exists between us and the earth. It is time to join the Cosmic Christ in the Great Work of mending, repairing, nurturing, and protecting our evolving creation. It is time for a new vision of a universal Church whose all-inclusive justice and unconditional love, an expression of Christ consciousness and the work of the Holy Spirit, empowers ALL and can lead to a future that preserves the true right to life of all of God’s creatures. This includes future generations who will bless us for allowing them to live, evolve, and flourish. Can’t you hear them crying out, “I want to live, I want to grow, I want to be, I want to know?”
In light of all this, how can I not respond to the call both Isaiah and Jesus heard, the call of our Baptism? “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me and sent me to bring Good News to the oppressed.” All creation will be freed, and all people will know the freedom and glory of the Children of God. Yes, Lord, I will go. Please send me.
And that is why I am leaving Jesuit priesthood. Since first vows I have always thought and hoped and prayed that I would live and die in this least Society of Jesus. But now, something unexpected! A real surprise! I HAVE lived and died in the Society of Jesus, but, now, nearly 80, I have been raised to new life. I am born again – into a much larger world, a much newer creation. I have greatly benefited from the spiritual freedom given in and by the Society of Jesus. I feel no longer chained, limited, bound, by the shackles of a judicial, institutional, clerical, hierarchical system. As St. Paul once reminded the early Christians, “It is for freedom that you have been set free.” And as St. Peter, the first Pope, learned when he said to Jesus, “You know that I love you,” love is all about surrender and servanthood.
Thank you for your attention to this self presentation. I am grateful that you have followed me in the journey described here, and I am sorry for whatever sadness, disappointment, or hurt this may have caused you. But what I have written here is my truth, and I can’t not do it! If you want to discuss this with me, ask questions, or give me feedback, I welcome your response, either by letter, e-mail or phone.
( 402-305-2665 ). Please pray for me, as I do for all of you, the beloved of my heart and soul.Yours in the Risen Christ, Bert Thelen
Editorial: Asking abused priests a life-changing question | National Catholic Reporter
In 2010, Fr. James Connell, then vice chancellor of the Milwaukee archdiocese, was publicly accused of complicity in protecting abusive priests. Connell was deeply stung by the accusation, which he denies. But rather than lash out at his accuser, abuse victim Peter Isely, he asked himself a question: "What if I had been a victim of sexual abuse by a priest?"
That question led him to a meeting and ultimately a friendship with Isely, as well as to an increasing activism on behalf of clergy abuse victims and in pursuit of the truth about the scandal.
Connell's response is especially significant in light of the recent release of some 6,000 pages of documents relating to clerical sex abuse in the Milwaukee archdiocese and church officials' response.
The documents disclose a distressingly familiar pattern: The archdiocese shuffled offending priests from parish to parish; increasing numbers of youngsters were abused; little was done to stem the abuse until it reached scandalous proportions and was made public; the Vatican was appallingly slow in acting on the charges when bishops finally were pushed to deal seriously with the problem. And at every point in the crisis, the hierarchy's primary concern was protection of the clergy culture.
Here is another story about Father Connell and his dilemma
He helps parishes and fellow priests confront sex scandal
By Annysa Johnson of the Journal Sentinel
In his years of reviewing clergy sex abuse cases for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Father James Connell had never truly contemplated the life of a victim - until one afternoon last October, sitting in the parking lot of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.
He awoke that morning to learn he would be the subject of a news conference on the steps of the Milwaukee cathedral called by clergy victims criticizing his role in the handling of a notorious abuse case.
Deeply troubled, Connell sat in his car after visiting a parishioner and asked himself for the first time: "What if I'd been a victim? Where would I be today if I'd been molested by a priest as a child?"
Read the rest of the story by clicking on the following: http://www.jsonline.com/features/religion/96944344.html
Magdalene refusal - This is about much more than money | Irish Examiner
Irish orders, particularly the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Charity, have taken considerable assets off the table by transferring them to various trusts. Echoing that philosophy in recent days the four congregations who ran Magdalene laundries announced that they will not make a financial contribution to the taxpayer fund set up for former residents. The Mercy Sisters, the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, the Sisters of Charity and the Good Shepherd Sisters had been expected to make a contribution to a €58m scheme.
Their refusal follows a pattern. After the Murphy and Ryan reports were published it was proposed that the 18 congregations involved share an estimated compensation bill of €1.3bn on a 50:50 basis with Government. Last year, there was a shortfall of €200m on the part of the religious orders.
The situation has been made even more fraught by a recent court ruling on land zoning which enhanced that value of lands owned by the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of Charity considerably. The orders succeeded in getting a veto on development in regards to properties in Dublin overturned.
Friday, July 19, 2013
A Catholic Tipping Point: Conversations with Fr. Helmut Schuller | VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL
A Catholic Tipping Point: Conversations with Fr. Helmut Schuller
Fr. Helmut Schuller, the charismatic founder of the Austrian Priests' Initiative (Pfarrer-Initiative), is visiting the United States this summer. Invited by a coalition of 10 church reform organizations for a 15-city tour, July 15 to August 7, Fr. Schuller will discuss initiatives taken by the Austrian priests, why they took action, and how the international reform movement is faring.
The Austrian Priests' Initiative was organized in 2006 to address a deepening shortage of priests, which has forced many Austrian parishes to close. The priests' initiative is calling for inclusive and transparent changes to Church governance, including greater lay leadership and lay preaching in parishes without a priest. Fr. Schuller's work inspired priests to establish similar priest groups in Germany, Ireland, France, and the United States.
The coalition of Church reform organizations that invited Schuller to the United states is calling his tour a Catholic Tipping Point because priests and people worldwide are creating a critical mass to transform the Church from the bottom up. An alternate title for his talk is: "Creativity, Courage and Conscience: Re-imagining Church Governance and the Voice of the Laity."
Voice of the Faithful® is collaborating with other groups to sponsor the kick-off event in Fr. Schuller's tour. This will take palce Tuesday evening, July 16, at Judson Memorial in Greenwich Village, New York City. VOTF also is sponsoring two addtional talks. The first will be on Wednesday evening, July 17, at St. Susanna's Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts, and the second will be on Wednesday evening, August 7, in Manhasset on Long Island, New York. Mark your calendars now. We will have much more information as the dates come closer.
The other U.S. cities where Fr. Schuller is speaking are Philadelphia, July 19; Baltimore, July 20; Washington, D.C., July 22; Chicago, July 24; Cleveland, July 25; Detroit, July 26; Cincinnati, July 27; Denver, July 29; San Diego, July 31; Los Angeles, Aug. 2; Portland, Oregon, Aug. 4; and Seattle, Aug. 5.
Click here for complete information about Fr. Schuller's U.S. tour.
A Catholic Tipping Point: Conversations with Fr. Helmut Schuller | VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL
Archdiocese speaks out against priest's visit - Philly.com
THE ARCHDIOCESE of Philadelphia is officially condemning tomorrow night's appearance by the Rev. Helmut Schüller at Chestnut Hill College.
Schüller's reformist views, which include the ordination of women and married men, the permission of divorced and remarried Catholics to receive sacraments and an end to celibacy for priests, "diverge very seriously from Catholic belief and practice,"
Chicago Cardinal Francis George should cancel appearance at Courage conference | National Catholic Reporter
Courage is going further -- much further. It is hosting two therapists, Bill Consiglio and Timothy Lock, affiliated with the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), a group that promotes the view that homosexuality is a disorder that can be cured. Consiglio and Lock offer seminars for clergy and mental health providers
Regardless of the Roman Catholic hierarchy's teachings on homosexuality, Cardinal George should dissociate himself from these bogus and harmful medical techniques.
Click on the following to read the entire article: Chicago Cardinal Francis George should cancel appearance at Courage conference | National Catholic Reporter
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Multiple issues still await resolution in complex church bankruptcy
By Annysa Johnson of the Journal Sentinel
At the heart of the case are three key questions: Did the archdiocese defraud victims by exposing them to sexually abusive priests, teachers and others without warning them? Just who, among the 575 creditors who allege they were assaulted over the years, is entitled to compensation? And what church assets, including insurance coverage, can and should be made available to pay them?
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Archdiocese will release another priest file | Fond du Lac Reporter | fdlreporter.com
released personnel files for 42 priests on July 1 as part of a deal with sexual abuse victims suing it for fraud. Some victims have criticized the church for not releasing more records.
Archdiocese spokesman Jerry Topczewski said this week that another priest’s file has been given to the archdiocese’s attorneys, who will work with victims’ attorneys to decide which portions to make public. A second priest is still under investigation, and his file could eventually become public. But other records will never be released.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Archdiocese of Philadelphia faces its debt with openness
David O'Reilly, Inquirer Staff Writer
Despite long-term debt of $350 million, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has no plans to seek bankruptcy protection, its chief financial officer said.
The church is committed instead to bringing its annual operating expenses into balance within a few years, CFO Tim O'Shaughnessy said in an interview, and will sell off real estate to bring down its long-term debt.
Click on the following for details of the problem: Church faces its debt with openness
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Archdiocese Bars Rebel Priest from Speaking During Visit | NBC 10 Philadelphia
Fr. Schuller also supports relaxing the rule barring women and married people from being ordained as priests and prohibiting communion from being given to divorced parishioners and other Christians.
Such views, coming from a practicing and ordained priest, have not sat well with church leaders. Pope Benedict XVI stripped Fr. Schuller’s monsignor title. Bishops in Boston and now Philadelphia are protesting his 15 city U.S. speaking tour – The Catholic Tipping Point – which stops at Chestnut Hill College next Friday.
Click on the following for more details: Archdiocese Bars Rebel Priest from Speaking During Visit | NBC 10 Philadelphia
Another View | Cemetary Trust - Cemetery trust created for the right reasons
Opinion
Another View | Cemetary Trust
Cemetery trust created for the right reasons
Then-Archbishop Timothy Dolan followed the recommendation of the archdiocesan finance council
By Mark G. Doll
Journal Sentinel readers would benefit from some additional facts and perspective on the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Cemetery Trust. I served as chairman of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Finance Council when the cemetery trust was created in 2007, and by that time the archdiocese already held funds in trust that were put aside over the decades with the specific purpose of providing perpetual care for the more than 500,000 departed loved ones who are buried in the eight Catholic cemeteries and seven mausoleums in Milwaukee County. All but one of these are in the city.
For many decades, the archdiocese told buyers of grave sites that it would put money aside to ensure perpetual care, and buyers of grave sites were assured that funds had been set aside specifically for that purpose. Similar to the process required by Wisconsin law for non-church cemeteries, the archdiocese put a portion of the money from cemetery lots sales into a separate account from the archdiocese's general funds. There was a regular and separate audit of the trust fund each year by an independent auditor, and the money was invested by a different group of outside investment managers. Because these funds were held in trust, special attention was given to ensuring that they were independent of the general fund and that they would be there for their intended and pledged purpose — to care for the resting places of the departed.
In spring of 2007, the finance council as a group unanimously recommended that the archdiocese formalize the way it fulfills this church responsibility.
We recommended that the existing perpetual care funds, which already were held in trust in a separate account, be transferred to a new formal trust. Our committee made this recommendation to help ensure that the church honored the fundamental promise that all Catholic cemeteries make to our deceased loved ones and their families — that the church will preserve and maintain cemeteries as sacred places forever.
That then-Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan implemented our recommendation should be respected. Indeed, it should be recognized as a reflection of now New York Cardinal Dolan's ongoing devotion to the Catholic faith and its teachings on the resurrection of the body.
In the Catholic faith, the promise to provide perpetual care — literally, to take care of the cemeteries forever — has a special and sacred meaning. It is to protect the sanctity of the body so it can one day be reunited with the soul. Catholic cemeteries are not just places where our loved ones are buried; they are sacred places that are maintained in a way that helps to fulfill God's promise about death and resurrection. Much of that is lost in this discussion, and it needs to be highlighted along with the importance of canon law and ecclesiastical duties.
After many years of tumult and pain, the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese is working hard to continue to take care of the faithful and meet their spiritual needs. Archbishop Jerome Listecki took on a difficult challenge and has tried to move the Catholic Church forward in a positive way in our community. Nothing can undo the hurt and mistakes of the past, and Listecki deserves support for the extraordinary steps that have been taken. Other institutions should consider adopting the protections the archdiocese has implemented.
To be sure, many challenges are ahead, especially the development of a reorganization plan that will allow the archdiocese to emerge from bankruptcy stronger. While it works toward that goal, we should respect the fact that church leadership adheres to the teachings of the church.
It is impossible and wrong to not recognize the hurt and pain of abuse survivors and the evil done to them. It is understandable that there is a focus on the real suffering and legitimate hurt in cases such as this, but a fair and balanced look at the facts shows that for the cemeteries and the families of those buried there, the archdiocese did the right thing the right way for the right reasons. The families of those resting in the Catholic cemeteries should not become new victims in the cause of trying to fairly address abuse victims and help heal their pain.
Mark G. Doll is chairman of the finance council for the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese. He is the retired chief investment officer of Northwestern Mutual. The Editorial Board regularly publishes viewpoints in this space that either disagree with our view or express a fresh perspective. Email: jsedit@jrn.com
The above is taken from: Another View | Cemetary Trust - Cemetery trust created for the right reasons
Residents voice concern over church expansion plans | Belvidere Daily Republican
Written by Margaret Rock Both
Alderman Dan Snow said he would not support the special use.
“My intention is to vote no,” Snow said. “I don’t see the necessity for the tower height and I’m not comfortable with giving up the six feet in the street…
Residents came to express concern over St. James’ church plans to expand their space, urging the council to pay attention to the plans, the setbacks, steeple and parking before voting
Click on the following to read the entire article: Residents voice concern over church expansion plans | Belvidere Daily Republican
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Editorial: Release of clergy abuse records may help rebuild trust | Green Bay Press Gazette | greenbaypressgazette.com
In 2000, the American Religion Data Archive reported Green Bay to be predominantly Catholic (71.5%), with Lutherans composing an additional 16.4%. The remaining 12% are almost entirely Protestant denominations. There is also an Islamic mosque and an Unitarian Universalist Fellowship located in the city.--WIKIPEDIA
this is only a tenth of all the information given to victims’ attorneys during litigation.
But those 6,000 pages confirmed what many had talked about — some priests preying on parishioners, officials publicly denying it while privately covering it up and moving abusers to other parishes. And they included some revelations, such as payments to priests and the legal, but questionable, transfer of $57 million to a trust that would provide “protection of these funds from any legal claim and liability.”….
The records may have been made public as part of a deal in federal bankruptcy court, but insight into the level of abuse and how it was handled has been long overdue.
With a full accounting of what happened, guilty parties can be held responsible and victims can be fairly compensated.
More records should be released. Those made public by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee will hurt the church, but in the end they may repair its reputation and help rebuild trust.
Click on the following for the entire editorial: Editorial: Release of clergy abuse records may help rebuild trust | Green Bay Press Gazette | greenbaypressgazette.com
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Friday, July 5, 2013
Attorneys Question Chicago’s Cardinal George For Hours About Sex Abuse | Illinois Public Media News | Illinois Public Media
By Chip Mitchell
That deposition, a secret June 25 session at a law firm downtown, included about six hours of questioning by a half dozen lawyers. The attorneys represented boys and young men who claimed to have been abused by Daniel McCormack, a former pastor of St. Agatha’s, a parish in an impoverished West Side neighborhood….
Last week’s session was at least the third George deposition about sexual abuse in the archdiocese. The first took place in 2008. Transcripts the archdiocese released months later provided an unprecedented look at the church’s handling of sexual abusers among its clergy.….
Cardinal Dolan and the Sexual Abuse Scandal - NYTimes.com
Is a lie to “protect the church” still a lie?
Editorial
Cardinal Dolan and the Sexual Abuse Scandal
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Published: July 3, 2013
Cardinal Dolan, now the archbishop of New York, has denied shielding the funds as an “old and discredited” allegation and “malarkey.” But newly released court documents make it clear that he sought and received fast approval from the Vatican to transfer the money just as the Wisconsin Supreme Court was about to open the door to damage suits by victims raped and abused as children by Roman Catholic clergy.
“I foresee an improved protection of these funds from any legal claim and liability,” Cardinal Dolan wrote rather cynically in his 2007 letter to the Vatican. The letter was released by the Milwaukee Archdiocese as part of a bankruptcy court fight with lawyers in 575 cases of damage claims…..
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Bankrupt Milwaukee Archdiocese Apparently Caught In Fraudulent Transfer - Forbes
Like those of any other debtor, the denials of the Church that it had other reasons for the transfer will carry little weight — the fraudulent transfer laws frankly presume that debtors will routinely lie as to why they made transfers of their assets.
Stay tuned as to whether the Bankruptcy Trustee will seek to set the transfer aside as a fraudulent transfer, and bring that money back into the Archdiocese’s bankruptcy estate for the benefit of all creditors.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Weekly Collections for the weekend of June 30, 2013
No change in number of families however Total Pledges decreased by $875.
Archbishop Chaput: Looking Ahead to the Archdiocesan Financial Report - Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Blog - Roxborough-Manayunk, PA Patch
This article was written by Archbishop Chaput, Archbishop of Philadelphia, PA
As I’ve said many times over the past 22 months, the resources of the Church don’t belong to the bishops or the clergy or some remote institution. They belong to her people. The Church is a steward. She holds her resources in trust for her people, to carry out their apostolic work as a community in furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That means she has an obligation to use her resources well. She also has a duty to make an accurate yearly accounting to her people of how she manages those resources, whether the news is happy or not
….The audited financial statements for every major archdiocesan entity will appear on our website for public review. I’ve also directed that in the future, as we continue to improve our operations, our annual financial reports will appear for our people’s scrutiny far more promptly and with proper standards of transparency.
Milwaukee archdiocese shielded pedophile priests - chicagotribune.com
Brendan O'Brien and Geoffrey DavidianReuters
Roman Catholic Church officials in Milwaukee vigorously shielded pedophile priests and protected church funds from lawsuits during a decades-long sex abuse scandal, according to hundreds of documents released on Monday….
One document is a letter that Dolan sent to the Vatican in June 2007 requesting permission to move $57 million into a cemetery trust fund in order to protect the funds from "any legal claim and liability." The Vatican approved the transfer a month later, according to the documents.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Michael D'Antonio: Milwaukee Documents Reveal Bishop Dolan's Bankruptcy Scheme and Frustration With Rome
Overall, the picture of Dolan that emerges in the papers is one of an administrator struggling to protect an institution's assets while defending its reputation. Some documents confirm that payments were made to induce priests who were accused of abuse to leave ministry and give up their faculties. Others show the bishop's frustration with Vatican officials and their slow-moving response to his requests that men who were credibly accused be dismissed from the priesthood. As years pass and the cases remain unresolved he referenced legislation that would allow for more lawsuits and wrote:
"The more we can demonstrate our seriousness about purifying the priesthood, as the Holy Father has implored us to do, the more we can speak credibly about the adverse effect of such legislation. Our critics challenge us on the fact that known abusers have still not been laicized."
Dolan's complaint represents one of the few instances where an American church leader's frustration with higher-ups in Rome has been made public
Click on the following for more details: Michael D'Antonio: Milwaukee Documents Reveal Bishop Dolan's Bankruptcy Scheme and Frustration With Rome
A Money-Smuggling Scandal Threatens to Sink the Vatican Bank - Businessweek
Since his installation in March, the pope also has appointed a trusted aide to help supervise the bank while naming a special commission to investigate charges of corruption and money laundering that have dogged the institution for decades. The bank also is to start publishing its financial accounts for the first time. Now the Vatican has even reached across the Atlantic for help, recruiting Washington, D.C.-based Promontory Financial Group to conduct a forensic review and screen the bank’s client relationships
