By Candy Czernicki of the Catholic Herald Staff

MILWAUKEE — Nearly a year after its implementation, the independent mediation system used to investigate and resolve claims of clergy sex abuse has received 112 reports, according to a report issued Dec. 20 by Eva Soeka, the system’s administrator. This includes 19 claims initiated between Sept. 15, the date of the last report, and Dec. 17.

In September 2003, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan appointed Soeka, a dispute resolution expert from Marquette University, to develop a system for addressing claims of child sexual abuse by clergy brought against the archdiocese. It began operations on Jan. 29, 2004.

According to the newly released report, 47 of the 112 claimants have completed the mediation process and resolved their claims with signed mediation agreements. Another 22 currently are in the mediation process, and nine are in the investigatory stage. Two claimants declined to pursue the mediation process and six claims were found to be unsubstantiated.

The remaining 26 claims reported to the mediation system were not included for various reasons:

• 13 cases in which members of religious orders or other dioceses were reported as abusers;
• Three cases where the claimants were adults when the alleged abuse occurred;
• Three cases where claimants were family members or friends of the alleged victim;
• Three cases where abusers were found to be lay people, not clergy; and
• Four cases where claimants could not provide sufficient information about the alleged abuse for an investigation to be conducted.

The Dec. 20 report stated each of the religious order claimants was referred by the mediation system’s administrators to a contact within the religious order involved in the alleged abuse. The religious order also was notified of a report of abuse and invited to request use of the mediation system. To date, one case involving a religious order has been mediated and resolved with a signed mediation agreement.

The six claims determined to be unsubstantiated were investigated by an independent investigator, one of three former Milwaukee police detectives.

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan said he was “grateful” to Soeka and those who have participated in the mediation process.

“When I commissioned the independent mediation system, I was seeking a method to facilitate resolution between victims-survivors of clergy sexual abuse and the Catholic Church of southeastern Wisconsin,” Archbishop Dolan said. “I believe this system is an effective way to reach resolution with people who have been abused by clergy members.

“Nothing can undo the harm of sexual abuse. Every time resolution is reached, whether with an individual or with a group, there is a very meaningful healing moment. The information shared during the mediation process is helpful as we continue to strengthen our outreach to victims-survivors and their families.

“I am grateful to Eva Soeka, who designed the system; to all the individuals who are helping the Archdiocese of Milwaukee reach resolution with victims-survivors, and most especially, to the many victims-survivors who have participated in the mediation process and who have reported much satisfaction.”

Soeka said she and Christine Harris Taylor, intake coordinator, are “going to wait and evaluate the program at the end of the year. We’ll do an analysis of how we feel the pattern of intakes is coming in and where we are with cases in process, if they require more time or less time. If we continue for any foreseeable time, we definitely would keep people apprised of what’s going on.”

The system continues to take reports of diocesan clergy sexual abuse of a minor. Victims-survivors may call (866) 302-9215 to make an initial report. All information is strictly confidential.