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A PDF of Archbishop Dolan's column is available at the bottom of this page.
Reform, reconciliation, renewal
 he new year of Our Lord, 2003, provides all a time of resolve and
recommitment, and, in that spirit, I wish to address the painful issue
of the sexual abuse of young people by the clergy and other church
personnel.
Since my arrival here four months ago, this sad and complex scandal has
been a major preoccupation. I have listened attentively to many brave
and eloquent victims-survivors of abuse, to committed professionals who
help them, as well as to so many among the people of God; I have
listened to our Holy Father, to my brother bishops of the country, to my
brother priests and deacons, to our religious, and to our pastoral
leaders. Most of all, all of us have listened to God’s Word, as Jesus
continues to invite his church to respond to this crisis with courage
and compassion.
I hear him challenge us to reform, reconciliation, and renewal.
I. Reform:
The horror of this sin, this sickness, this crime of abuse of our youth
calls the church and all society to genuine reform.
The bishops of the country, encouraged by Pope John Paul II, have moved
vigorously to see that such reform has begun. While, tragically, due to
our sinful nature, we can never be sure that such a crime will not occur
again in the future, we can be firm that those who have committed such
terrible acts are never again assigned as priests. We can also resolve
that the strict requirements of the bishops’ “Charter for the Protection
of Children and Young People” and the norms to implement them are in
force here in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
To this end, I am now able to announce the members of the Archdiocesan
Review Board, which will have the mandate of cooperating with civil
authorities in assessing future allegations of sexual abuse of minors,
providing counsel regarding suitability for ministry, and reviewing all
archdiocesan policies to make sure they are in line with what we have
pledged to do. The five members — and we may decide to add more — are:
Hannah Dugan, a member of Gesu Parish in Milwaukee, an attorney for the
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, skilled especially in representing the
poor and helpless;
Margaret Farrow, a member of St. Anthony by the Lake Parish in Pewaukee,
parent and grandparent, Wisconsin’s 42nd lieutenant-governor, and
longtime respected and effective public servant;
Dr. Charles Lodl, clinical psychologist in private practice in Mequon,
with a specialty in therapy for victims and offenders, and active in
community programs of education to prevent abuse;
Donald Schuenke, a member of St. Mary Parish in Elm Grove, retired
chairman of Northwestern Mutual, parent and grandparent, former chairman
of the board of Marquette University, and noted civic leader;
The Rev. James Connell, a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, pastor
of Holy Name of Jesus Parish and St. Clement parishes, both in
Sheboygan, also vice-chancellor of the archdiocese, with a doctorate in
Canon Law.
This important review board will benefit from the policies already in
effect due to the diligence of the Eisenberg Commission. That panel, led
by the late Dean of the Marquette University School of Law, put into
place a clear system of referring all allegations to law enforcement
officials — something the archdiocese had already begun to do — and
even, if necessary, undertaking an independent investigation, led at
this time by retired Judge John Fiorenza, when accusations fall outside
the purview of the law.
As I trust is clear from the caliber of the members of this review
board, it will be of significant value in implementing the reform called
for by so many whose confidence in the church has been shaken. It has
also become very clear to me that, while I must always give this issue
priority, I need a trusted delegate to oversee and coordinate our
response to this crisis. I am appointing the chancellor of the
archdiocese, Dr. Barbara Anne Cusack, a noted jurist respected by all
parties, to be my delegate in the area of sexual abuse of minors by
clergy.
At the same time, we have in place our own tribunal to make sure that
the rights of victims and accused priests, as spelled out in the Code of
Canon Law, and insisted upon by the Vatican, are protected.
Reform means we have recognized the mistakes of the past, and are
determined to do our best to see that they are not repeated. As
abhorrent as people find the abuse of a young person by a priest, they
tell me they are more shocked by the past reassignment of such a priest,
even after therapy, and by the failure of the church at times to
cooperate fully with law enforcement officials and report such crimes.
The clear steps now in place should see that this does not happen again.
While respectful of some necessary confidentiality, another component of
reform is transparency. The church must be as open as possible in
letting the people know the facts and implications of this scandal. Many
ask about the financial impact. People legitimately wonder how much of
their money has been spent for attorney and court fees, care of accused
priests, and professional counseling and settlements for those abused.
Very shortly, I will mail to every Catholic home in southeastern
Wisconsin the results of the recently-completed annual audit of the
archdiocese by a new firm, Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP, and therein
publicize the amount spent in the areas listed above. It’s your money —
I am but the steward. Future settlements will be considered only after
review by our Archdiocesan Finance Council — composed mostly of lay
professionals in the field of finance — and the College of Consultors —
a group of priests mandated by Canon Law to advise the bishop on
important decisions.
An equally essential area of transparency regards our cooperation with
law enforcement officials. Of course, as you know, especially after the
charter and norms, every accusation goes directly to the proper
officials. Thus, I will make available to the District Attorney’s Office
of Milwaukee County the names and details of all past credible
allegations of sexual abuse by priests still living to make sure that
the requirements of the law are being met. I also repeat my
encouragement to anyone who has been a victim of such abuse to report
this to the police and to the archdiocese.
For the record, as of today, the archdiocese has knowledge of 39
diocesan priests from the past 70 years (since such records were kept)
with documented and substantiated allegations of sexual abuse involving
a minor. Fourteen of these priests are deceased. Of those alive, none
are in active ministry; eight have resigned with full restrictions
against any ministry; one is disabled; nine are without assignment under
full restriction; three have left the ministry and do not function as
priests; and four are in stages of canonical process toward laicization
or dismissal. The requirements of both civil and church law are being
obeyed.
I was taught, as I know you were, that the best way to reform after sin
or misdeed is to learn from past error, and resolve not to let it happen
again. With the above reform in place, I pray we can move forward.
II. Reconciliation:
This tragedy has left many people terribly hurt and scarred: first and
foremost, of course, are those abused, who bear the pain forever. I also
learned by listening to such victim-survivors that the agony extends to
their families. Parishes, too, have been fractured, and the morale of
our priests has been seriously hurt due to the sins of fewer than 2
percent of their brothers. And our people feel embarrassment, shame, and
anger over this terrible scandal. The entire Body of Christ has been
wounded.
Reconciliation cannot begin until true sorrow is expressed. So I say it
again: I am heartily sorry for the sins and crimes of priests, bishops,
and church personnel who molested our young people, and for the poor
judgments of some bishops who failed to take proper action.
Well over a decade ago, Project Benjamin began in this archdiocese, one
of the pioneer such programs in the nation. Since then, approximately
250 people — victims, families, and others affected — have sought
spiritual and emotional help through this initiative, which is the
official outreach of the church in southeastern Wisconsin to victims.
Testimony from many victims attests to how this program has helped
healing and reconciliation.
As effective as Project Benjamin has been, it engages in ongoing
improvement, and wants to do even better. Thoughtful criticisms and
suggestions as to how it can improve have come during much consultation
this past year. We are in the process of instituting a new advisory
board for Project Benjamin, which will undertake a thorough study to
make sure this outreach continues as effectively, objectively, and
competently as possible.
I want especially to tap the excellent resources of local professionals
who helped structure last October’s listening sessions to assist us in
making sure Project Benjamin has the precision of purpose and all the
resources it needs to fulfill its mandate of reconciliation. I would
even hope the new advisory board can help us extend outreach to those
family members who have been shattered by the abuse suffered by a child,
sibling, or spouse.
But, as important as such projects are, there is no replacement for
personal, individual outreach and concern. Bishops might not be experts
in law or psychology — but we are experts, I hope, in God’s love and
compassion. I was so moved at the painful listening sessions last fall
to hear story after story of how victims — grievously abused by priests
or others in the church — had also been helped to heal by devoted
priests, deacons, sisters, and lay leaders in the church.
Sometimes I am the one who must personally meet with victims and their
families to offer reconciliation and spiritual healing. I have done this
and will continue to do so. During the early months of 2003, I will be
available for three extended periods: Monday, Jan. 27 - 8:30 a.m. to 11
a.m.; Monday, Feb. 10 - 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and Thursday, March 6 -
1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The place will be the Catholic Charities Center,
2021 N. 60th St., (60th and Lloyd streets), in Milwaukee. Any victims or
members of their families can just show up to see me, or call a
voice-mail phone number we have set up [(414) 769-3536] so a message can
be left — anonymous, if desired — stating a time most preferred.
I plan to do more of these sessions in different areas of the
archdiocese in a sincere attempt to be available to anyone who has
suffered from this scandal, and to circulate the details of my
availability among centers devoted to therapy for victims and their
families.
In addition, I have asked a number of our priests, plus some religious
women and lay ecclesial ministers, all hailed by survivors and their
families for their compassion and competence, to be available for the
spiritual reconciliation at the heart of healing. Their contact
information is available through Project Benjamin.
In my extensive listening and consultation, I also learned that a
roadblock to reconciliation can be the church’s position on certain laws
regarding sexual abuse. Thus, the bishops of the state need to study
carefully the legislation to be considered by our elected
representatives in Madison next term, and we have plans to do so, giving
particular attention to the observations of our lay advisors trained in
legal matters, as well as to the other religious leaders of the state.
However, the church’s outreach to those who have suffered must go
beyond the requirements of the law. We have a duty in justice and
charity to bring about reconciliation, concentrating on the pastoral,
spiritual, and emotional needs of our brothers and sisters who suffer.
Nor can we forget the demands of restorative justice. Some victims have
suffered financial loss and have had to spend their own resources toward
recovery, and can legitimately look to the church for some recompense.
When I was reviewing our statements of financial accountability, to
which I referred earlier, a copy of which you will soon receive, I noted
that, in the expenses borne by the archdiocese in dealing with this
scandal, more money went for legal fees than to the needs of caring for
victims. My goal would be to minimize as much as possible the need for
such legal fees, and to concentrate instead on the need for therapy,
healing, and restorative justice.
A positive sign is the hopeful proposal of mediation. Through this
process, the legitimate needs and expectations of victim-survivors are
presented to representatives of the archdiocese, who then offer a
proposed response of pastoral, spiritual, and emotional care, plus
considerations of material help with the goal of restorative justice.
My vision of this process would include minimal involvement by
attorneys, with money much more fairly spent on the just needs of those
harmed. I am grateful for the initiative of our survivor advocates
urging mediation instead of litigation.
Of course, I worry, because I also have a clear duty to protect the
resources of the church, to see that they are used as you, the donors,
intended: namely, to support the mission of the church to teach, serve,
and sanctify.
As will be clear from the statement of financial accountability soon to
be published, contrary to the myth, we do not have tons of money, and,
what we do have is strictly designated only to be used for the purpose
intended. Thus, if lawyers come at me with demands and deadlines, I
have a duty to the people of the archdiocese, and have no choice but to
seek legal counsel as well, and to exercise the rights given us in the
law to properly steward our limited resources.
It is my earnest hope that the mediation process that I have envisioned
will take the place of litigation. I hear from so many that, when
matters reach litigation, everyone loses.
In proposing this, I want to make it clear that the mediation I envision
is not mediation in the traditional sense of the word, where the parties
meet to resolve pending or threatened litigation. As I mentioned
earlier, the archdiocese has no choice but to move to dismiss any
litigation filed against it. The mediation I envision is a process
independent of litigation where victims and their advocates meet with
representatives of the archdiocese, without lawyers, to come to a
response of pastoral, spiritual, emotional, and restorative care.
The genuine desire for reconciliation impels us to continue to do
everything possible to heal the wounds inflicted upon so many.
III. Renewal:
This is the most important area of all. I believe with all my heart and
soul that Jesus is purifying and renewing his church through all of this
sorrow and pain. At the listening sessions last fall, I was so moved to
hear speaker after speaker eloquently point to the power of their faith
in providing light in the darkness, and their heartfelt desire to return
to prayer and to spiritual health. One advocate urged all the victims to
return to the church, the sacraments, and the Eucharist, noting this as
the best thing they could do to help themselves.
Our priests attest to the fact that, in spite of their fraternal
suffering, they are sensing a renewed spirit of prayer, with a
recommitment to fidelity, holiness, humility, and priestly virtue, and
that they have been supported through this past year of crisis by the
encouragement of their people.
Young men are coming forward to explore a vocation, telling us they want
to be part of the solution, not the problem. And Catholics throughout
the country seem to have reclaimed their birthright as baptized and
confirmed members of the church, eager to see the church they love begin
the rising that must come after so much dying. They are recommitted to
the teachings of God’s Word, and to the message of Jesus and his church,
realizing that the problem is not in Catholic teaching, but in our
failure to live it and obey it.
One of the ways this renewal continues is through education. The
archdiocese is committed to offering helpful, proven programs of
education to priests, deacons, religious, lay leaders, teachers, youth
ministers, parents, and children themselves, to assist us in preventing
abuse, detecting it, and dealing with its effects. I have accepted the
gracious offer of local therapists and victim assistance to help us in
these initiatives of education. Child abuse is a curse not only in the
church, but in all areas of society, even, sadly, within families, and
the church must be a leader in helping to educate against it.
Our priests and pastoral leaders tell us they could use continuing
formation in how best to minister to those victims who come to them for
pastoral care, and we will provide it. I want such formation available
in our seminary, and in the programs of ongoing education all our
priests are called upon to take.
Likewise will we engage in the renowned “Renew” program, so successful
in the past in the archdiocese, and now re-tailored to bring about
spiritual healing in the midst of the present struggle caused by the
scandal. Each parish will be encouraged to offer this tested program of
renewal, study, small group sharing, and prayer during the upcoming
season of Lent, as a means of spiritual renewal in the church.
I repeat: I am convinced this is a real occasion of renewal for the
church, as the Lord can mysteriously bring good from evil.
Reform - Reconciliation - Renewal: Our “New Year Resolution”: What is
essential is that we keep doing what we as the church do best. This past
year has daily shown us stories of the sinful and destructive side of
the church. But, in care for families, children and young people —
especially those poor, forgotten, sick, and abused — nobody does it
better than the church. No other institution in history, or in the world
today, cares and nurtures children and young people more effectively
than the church. Our Divine Founder exclaimed, “Let the little children
come to me,” an invitation repeated by his church. The current crisis
moves us to prayer: prayers of sorrow, repentance, and conversion, yes;
but also prayers of a renewed commitment to Christ and his church,
showing us the way, teaching us the truth, and giving us life.
A blessed New Year!
Most Rev. Timothy M. Dolan
Archbishop of Milwaukee
Jan. 1, 2003
Solemnity of Mary,
Mother of God
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